HANGZHOU -- East China is on high alert as Typhoon Wipha, which intensified from a tropical storm on Monday morning, approaches coastal areas.

The typhoon, packing winds up to 126 kilometers per hour at its eye, is heading northwest at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour, according the meteorological observatory of the Zhejiang province.

At 8:00 am on Monday, its center was located about 690 kilometers southeast of Taipei.

It was expected to land at the central-south coast of Zhejiang province on late Tuesday or early Wednesday, or skirt the coast without making landfall, the observatory said.

The provincial flood control headquarters has issued a public warning, and required local authorities to prepare to relocate residents, patrol reservoirs and brace for geological disasters.

The Taiwan authorities have issued both sea and land warnings for the typhoon. The meteorological stations in Shanghai and Fujian province also issued typhoon warnings, requiring all vessels to return to shore or alter course to avoid it.