Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the year, entered China's 24-hour warning line late Friday, prompting multiple government departments to upgrade emergency responses as the powerful storm continued to approach China's eastern coast.

As of 10 p.m. Friday, Typhoon Dolphin was located about 600 kilometers east of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, and was moving slowly westward at a speed of 5 to 10 km per hour, according to authorities. It is expected to make landfall along the coast between Zhoushan in Zhejiang and Fuding in Fujian from Saturday night to early Sunday.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Friday afternoon upgraded the flood and typhoon prevention emergency response for Zhejiang and Fujian from Level IV to Level III.

The Ministry of Emergency Management also activated a Level IV national geological disaster emergency response for Zhejiang and Fujian, citing a high risk of geological disasters in most parts of Zhejiang and northern Fujian.

At 5 a.m. Saturday, Typhoon Dolphin, classified as a severe typhoon, was located over the southern part of the East China Sea, about 600 km southeast of Wenzhou, Zhejiang. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 meters per second near its center, equivalent to force 14 on the Beaufort scale, and a minimum central pressure of 950 hectopascals.

The typhoon was forecast to move west-northwestward at a speed of 10 to 15 km per hour, with its intensity expected to remain largely unchanged or increase slightly. It is expected to make landfall along the coast between Zhoushan in Zhejiang and Fuding in Fujian from Saturday night to early Sunday, with maximum winds of 38 to 45 meters per second, equivalent to force 13 to 14.

After making landfall, Typhoon Dolphin is expected to continue moving west-northwestward and gradually weaken.

The China Meteorological Administration issued an orange typhoon warning and a blue severe convective weather warning at 6 a.m. Saturday, urging relevant regions and departments to strengthen monitoring, early warning and emergency preparedness.