China issues yellow alert for Typhoon Haiyan

The China National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center (NMEFC) on Friday issued a yellow warning for very high seas and monster waves that are likely to be generated by super typhoon Haiyan in the next 24 hours. Haiyan, the 30th and strongest typhoon to hit China this year, is expected to enter the South China Sea in two days, Xinhua quoted the center as saying. From noon on Friday to noon on Saturday, 5 to 8.5-meter waves will appear in the eastern part of the South China Sea, while 3 to 4-meter waves will hit the northern part of the South China Sea, the center added. The NMEFC said 8 to 10-meter waves will appear near the center of the typhoon, making the South China Sea situation severe for shipping. The center asked ships there to return to port in time to avoid the typhoon and waves, and said related departments in coastal areas should take precautionary measures in advance. Yellow is the second tier in China's four-tier color-coded weather warning system.