Typhoon Conson is closing in on the southern coast of China after killing 23 people in the Philippines.

Hainan and Guangdong provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are expecting heavy rain and gale-force winds. An alert has been issued to cargo ships along China's southern seaboard. More than 20,000 boats returned to harbor in anticipation of the storm.

Hainan Province banned all sea transportation in the Qiongzhou Strait. Local governments are preparing rescue operation crews.