China on high alert for typhoon Kalmaegi

More than 90,000 people have been evacuated and some 30,000 vessels have returned to harbor as south China issued a top alert for typhoon Kalmaegi.

A consumer selects instant noodles in a supermarket in Haikou, capital of south China's island of Hainan Province, Sept. 15, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

In Wenchang city of Hainan Province, 94,336 people have been evacuated as of 9 p.m. Monday, according to local authorities.

Nearly 26,000 fishing boats in Hainan and over 3,000 vessels in Guangdong have been back to shore, according to flood control and maritime authorities of the two provinces.

Some 6,000 oil rig workers have been evacuated by helicopter, according to the Guangdong Maritime Bureau.

And 29 rescue ships and two helicopters are on standby in the South China Sea for the storm.

China Southern Airlines have decided to cancel all the flights to or from Haikou on Tuesday morning.

The Hainan government issued the highest Grade I alert at 10 a.m. Monday for Kalmaegi, which was spotted on the sea 645 km southeast of Leizhou City, Guangdong Province at 4 p.m. Monday.