China, Vietnam gird for Typhoon Rammasun

Southern China and Vietnam were bracing Friday for the arrival of Typhoon Rammasun after the massive storm killed at least 54 people in the Philippines.

Rammasun was due to hit land late Friday on Hainan island off China's southern coast and Guangdong province on the mainland with winds of up to 180 kph (112 mph), the official Xinhua News Agency said. It said the typhoon might become the strongest in 40 years to hit Hainan, which draws millions of tourists every year.

The local news website Hainan Net said ferries to the mainland and train service on the eastern part of the island were suspended.

The storm brought high winds and rain to Hong Kong and was due to plow through northern Vietnam after passing Hainan.

Rammasun barreled through the northern Philippines on Wednesday, drenching the capital of Manila. The deadly typhoon forced the evacuation of half a million people and knocked out power to whole provinces.

The Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Friday updated the death toll to 54, with three other people missing and 100 injured.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.