FUZHOU-- East China's Fujian province on Sunday evening initiated a Level-IV emergency response to the approaching Typhoon Kong-rey, the 21st typhoon of this year.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response.

Kong-rey, classified as a tropical storm and located 1,280 km to the southeast of Taiwan's Hualien as of 8 pm, is forecast to strengthen into a severe or super typhoon, according to China's National Meteorological Center.

Fujian's flood control and drought relief headquarters have asked local authorities to closely monitor the typhoon and implement timely precautions.