Fishing boats return to Shenjiamen fishing port in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, to escape Typhoon Lekima on Aug 8, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

The municipal weather bureau of Yiwu issued a blue alert for Typhoon Lekima on Aug 9, as it is expected to make landfall in the coastal areas of East China's Zhejiang province Saturday.

At 8 am, the center of Typhoon Lekima, the ninth typhoon of the year, was about 290 km southeast of the city of Wenling in Zhejiang province, with a maximum wind force of 209 kilometers per hour.

The typhoon will move northwest at a speed of about 13 km per hour, with gradually weakening force.

From Friday to Saturday, Lekima will bring heavy rain to the Yiwu and residents are suggested to stay at home for the weekend.