China is bracing itself for its worst floods in more than a decade as Typhoon Conson closes in on its southern coast. Meteorologists warne Conson – which claimed at least 39 lives in the Philippines – brings with it torrential rains increasing the risk of floods.<br/><br/>Conson had been downgraded to a tropical storm after it left the Philippines but strengthened into a typhoon again late yesterday. The China Meteorological Administration said it was packing winds of 120km/h. <br/><br/>Conson is expected to make landfall late today in Hainan, an island off south-east China, where 24,000 fishing boats have been recalled. <br/><br/>An official at the local meteorological bureau said light rain was already falling on Hainan, and conditions were dark and windy. Parts of Guangdong province and neighbouring Guangxi region are also forecast to see torrential rains over the next 24 hours. <br/><br/>Torrential rains across a huge area of southern China have already killed around 400 people this year. <br/><br/>Central China is facing its worst floods since 1998 as rain continues to batter the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River.