BEIJING - China's flood control authority on Monday said it has launched a level-four emergency response to cope with two typhoons, Nesat and Haitang, which may lash China's coastal regions over the next few days.

Haitang, the 18th typhoon of the year, was located approximately 190 km southeast of the city of Sanya in the southern province of Hainan at 8 am Monday.

The typhoon is expected to move westward at 10 km per hour and continue strengthening. It may make a landfall in Hainan in the next few days, said Liu Ning, secretary general of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, at a video conference.

The 17th typhoon Nesat, which was detected about 460 km east of Luzon Island of Philippines at 8 am, is forecast to move northwestward at 15-20 km per hour and continue to strengthen.

The flood control authority requires local governments in coastal areas to closely monitor the typhoons and issue early warnings to the public in a timely manner.

Local governments are also urged to keep high alert on possible flooding and other disasters caused by typhoons.

As of 4 pm Sunday, 27,200 fishing boats have taken shelter in Hainan ports. The provinces of Guangdong and Fujian are also implementing measures to prepare for the typhoons.