Typhoon Bebinca, the 17th tropical storm of this year, is building up near the Philippines and will affect east Chinese ocean in coming hours, a meteorological report said yesterday.

 

According to the China Meteorological Administration, Bebinca, packing maximum winds of 18 meters per second, was in shape at latitude 16.3 north and longitude 130.7 east by 5 PM yesterday and is moving north at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour.

 

The meteorological authority warned fishing boats and ships to steer away from the storm's route as high winds are expected in the area 550 kilometers away from the eye of the moving storm.

 

Strong winds or gales will especially hit the Taiwan Straits, East China Sea from late Tuesday to Wednesday night, the report said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 4, 2006)