BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Twelve Chinese sailors were rescued by a government flying service team from a flooded vessel Tuesday before Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in southern China, the Ministry of Transport said.

The 12 crew members were aboard the vessel "Shenjia 33" at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday when it began to sink amid strong winds brought by Typhoon Kalmaegi about two nautical miles south of Zhuhai Hebao Island in southern Guangdong Province.

Upon receiving reports, the ministry's marine rescue team dispatched a helicopter to the area, and rescuers picked up all 12 sailors in about half an hour, according to the ministry.

All rescued seamen arrived safely in Zhuhai at 10:53 a.m.

The 15th typhoon to hit China this year, Typhoon Kalmaegi first landed in China's southernmost island province Hainan on Tuesday morning and re-landed in the coastal areas of Xuwen County, Guangdong Province at 12:45 p.m., forcing flight cancellations and boat evacuations.

There were no immediate casualties reported from the typhoon as of noon on Tuesday.