After wreaking havoc in the Philippines, super typhoon Rammasun is en route to Southern China and rapidly intensifying as it nears China's coastline.

The typhoon will make landfall on Hainan island late Friday where winds are expected to reach up to 150 mph, making it the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane according to a forecast by the Joint Warning Typhoon Center.

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China's National Meteorological Center declared this typhoon as a "super typhoon" and this is the first time this year the country issued a "red" typhoon alert, the highest level of typhoon warning.

According to AccuWeather meteorologist Eric Leister, widespread wind damage will take place together with flooding, mudslides and coastal storm surges across the Hainan region.

Rammasun's impact will be far more severe when it hits mainland China. The Meteorological Center in the provincial capital Haikou declared that this is the strongest typhoon to hit the island since 1973.

Around 68 flights were cancelled at the Haikou Meilan International Airport last Thursday and Friday affecting more than 3,300 passengers.

Rammasun is classified as "severe typhoon" according to the Hong Kong Observatory where its center is some 410-km south-southwest of Hong Kong. A T3 warning is now enforced around the territory indicating strong winds.

Hong Kong will be at a considerable distance from the typhoon, and any impact will be limited to higher surf and some strong, gusty winds on Friday.

China's state meteorologists expect the typhoon to hit the island late Friday afternoon where it is headed to Guangdong's peninsula and towards southern Guangxi region on Saturday. Rammasun is expected to hit Nothern Vietnam on Sunday.

This past week, heavy rains and landslides have killed at least 45 people in southern China according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs last Thursday.

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