Tropical storm "Durian", which was located 870 kilometers east of Samar, central Philippines, at 02:00 with winds of 126 kilometers per hour (kph), has intensified into a typhoon, says China's Central Meteorological Station.

 

Durian is forecast to move west northwest at 25 kph and continue to gather strength.

 

The station says northerly winds are gusting at speeds of up to 61.6 kph in the Yellow Sea, the northern part of the East China Sea, Bohai Sea and the Korea Strait.

 

The station forecasts Durian will whip up winds of 120 kph to 150 kph in these areas on Wednesday or Thursday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2006)