A powerful typhoon has formed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and is approaching Taiwan and the southeastern part of the Chinese mainland.

According to the latest forecast of the National Meteorological Center, this year's severe Typhoon Soulik intensified into a super typhoon at 2:00 am, July 10. At 5:00 am, July 10, its center was located in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, about 1,800 km from Taipei, Taiwan (20.9 degrees north latitude, 136.5 degrees east longitude).

The maximum wind force around its center is level 14 (45m/s), and the minimum pressure was 935 hPa. It is forecasted that Soulik will move west by north at a speed of 20km/h with strengthening intensity.

Soulik will probably influence Pingtan county over the weekend, said Zhou Hua, a weatherman from the local meteorological bureau.

The bureau on Wednesday issued warnings for heavy rains and strong winds from July 12 to 14 and urged farmers to rush the harvest of rice and peanuts in order to finish before the typhoon lands.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Micheal Thai