The center of the typhoon passed over the southwest sea of Japan's Kyushu at 5 a.m. Friday (Beijing time), with gale-force winds reaching a maximum force 12 on the Beaufort scale.

It is expected move northwest towards the southern coast of theKorean Peninsula at a speed of 15 km per hour, with its strength weakening gradually, according to the forecast.

The typhoon is expected to hit the north and east parts of the East China Sea, most of the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea with windforces from 7 to 10 from daytime to night Friday. At the center ofthe storm they will reach 11 to 12.

The coastal areas of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong as well as the estuary region of the Yangtze River will also suffer gales with the forces of from 7 to 9.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2002)