China steps up efforts to fight typhoon Molave

BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said Saturday night that areas to be affected by typhoon Molave should take measures to get prepared for it, as the typhoon would bring adverse effects to the farming sector.

Molave, the sixth tropical storm this year which became typhoon on Saturday morning, was likely to make landfall between Huilai and Taishan in southern Guangdong Province on Saturday night or Sunday morning, and affect Fujian, Hainan and other provinces, according to the National Meteorological Center.

The ministry urged local agricultural agencies to help fishermen and fishing boats to evacuate to safe places.

The MOA said it had sent expert work groups to provinces that might be affected by typhoon Molave and planned to arrange special fund to help these areas fight the typhoon.