China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Wednesday issued a level-two disaster control emergency response for typhoon Nuri, which was expected to make a landfall on southeast coastal areas on Friday or Saturday.

Nuri was the first strong typhoon to land at the country this year, the headquarters said.

According to the latest forecast at 11:00 AM, the eye of Nuri was 700 kilometers southeast of Shanwei City of Guangdong Province, packing winds of up to force-13, or 144 kilometers per hour.

Nuri was still strengthening and moving northwest at a speed of 15km per hour, according to the headquarters.

China Meteorological Administration has launched a level-three emergency response to cope with the typhoon.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2008)