In China, the national observatory yesterday maintained its yellow alert, the second lowest level of a four-tier warning system, for Sarika, the 21st typhoon of the year. <br/><br/>The eye of the typhoon was above the South China Sea some 1,040 km to the southeast of Hainan Province, the National Meteorological Center said in a statement. The typhoon will linger above the northern part of the South China Sea before making landfall in Hainan tomorrow morning. <br/><br/>The NMC said that heavy rain and gales are expected to affect China's southeastern coastal areas including Guangdong, Fujian and Hainan today. The NMC suggested local governments in affected areas take precautions against possible geological disasters.<br/><br/>