Typhoon Mujigae hits South China

People walk under rain in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 4, 2015. Typhoon Mujigae, the 22nd typhoon this year, landed on South China's Guangdong Province on Sunday. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

GUANGZHOU, Oct. 4 -- Typhoon Mujigae, the 22nd typhoon this year, made landfall in South China's Guangdong Province on Sunday.

The typhoon, bringing gales and downpour, hit the coastal city of Zhanjiang at 2:10 p.m., packing winds of up to 50 meters per second, the provincial meteorological observatory said.

It is forecast to move northwest at a speed of about 20 km per hour and arrive in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in evening. Storms are predicted to last till Monday in west Guangdong and the Pearl River delta.

Guangdong's flood control and drought relief headquarters elevated its typhoon emergency response to the highest level at 9 a.m.

Maritime safety authorities of Zhanjiang told Xinhua that some vessels were stranded at sea, while no casualties have been reported.

More than 500 tourists were stranded on Fangji Island, a popular scenic spot administered by Maoming City, said the city's office handling floods, droughts and typhoons.

The authorities began to evacuate tourists from the island on Saturday, but the operation was interrupted by strong winds. The remaining tourists were transferred to hotels for free accommodation.

Water, power supply and telecommunications at the hotels are unaffected. More than 130 emergency workers and a dozen police officers are caring for the tourists.

Fangji has called off all entertainment activities at sea and tightened inspections on dangerous areas.