Hong Kong urged small ships and fishing boats on the open seas to seek shelter Tuesday as a killer typhoon -- the strongest ever to threaten the city in May -- spun closer on its way to China's southern coast.

 

Strong waves break over the sea walls at the fishport of Bulan town, in Sorsogon province. The Philippines death toll from Typhoon Chanchu has risen to at least 41 as the storm continued its destructive path across the region. [AFP]

The storm's eye was expected to miss Hong Kong, but its fringe would begin lashing the city early Wednesday, the Hong Kong Observatory said.

Typhoon Chanchu, which means "pearl" in Chinese, was about 600 kilometers (372 miles) south of Hong Kong early Tuesday, the observatory said. It was moving at 16 kph (10 mph) and packing maximum sustained winds of 170 kph (105 mph), the observatory said.

Chanchu was the strongest typhoon on record to enter the South China Sea in May, the observatory said.

The storm roared towards Hong Kong after whirling over the Philippines last weekend, killing at least 37 people and leaving thousands homeless.

As Chanchu came nearer, the observatory issued a warning that urged small ships and fishing boats on the open sea to seek shelter as soon as possible.

It also said people should stay away from the shoreline because of the threat of swells.