Tropical storm Higos, the 17th this year, was moving towards south China's island province of Hainan, said the provincial meteorological station on Thursday.

Formed on Tuesday on the Pacific Ocean, the storm was located at 14.8 degrees north latitude and 119.3 degrees east longitude at 2 a.m. Thursday. It is still gaining momentum while moving northwestwards at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour.

After stranding thousands in the Philippines, it is to lash the South China Sea with strong winds and Hainan with heavy rains, according to the meteorological station.

Higos came on the heels of Jangmi and Hagupit, which altogether killed some 20 people in China.

(Xinhua News Agency October 2, 2008)