Tropical storm Bilis, the fourth to threaten China this year, is heading northwestwards to the offshore area of southeast China with a speed of 15 kilometers per hour.

It may land in Fujian Saturday, said experts with the provincial meteorological observatory on Tuesday.

The tropical storm, formed on July 9 in the Pacific, east of the Philippines and named by the nation, was located at latitude 13.5 degrees north and longitude 136.8 degrees east at 2 p.m. Monday.

The top wind speed near the center is 18 meters per second and its central air pressure is 996 pascal.

Experts believe that the storm might have big influence on Fuzhou, capital of Fujian. The provincial meteorological observatory is keeping close watch on its movement.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2006)