Related: Typhoon Chanchu approaches Guangdong

    BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- China has urged seven provinces, including the coastal regions of Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang, to stay alert and prepare for disaster relief as typhoon Chanchu moves closer to south China after killing dozens of people in the Philippines.

    Chanchu, or "Pearl" in Chinese, was lying about 480 kilometers south of Hong Kong late Tuesday afternoon and is moving north at 18 km per hour towards the city and southern China's Guangdong province, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. It is the strongest typhoon on record to enter the South China Sea during the month of May.

    The typhoon may hit the coastal regions between Guandong's Shenzhen City and Raoping County on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning, but may also bypass Guangdong and move toward Fujian or the Taiwan Straits instead, according to the meteorological station in Guangzhou.

    The seven provinces have been told to activate emergency plans,evacuate people threatened by typhoons and ensure the survival of disaster victims.

    The Ministry of Civil Affairs has allocated 3,200 tents to Fujian to help the evacuation.

    The typhoon ravaged central Philippines on Saturday, killing over 30 people and leaving more than 1,000 others homeless. Enditem