Typhoon Kaemi is weakening but southern China will continue to be lashed by heavy rains over the next 24 hours, the Central Observatory said on Wednesday night.

With heavy rains sweeping most of China's southeastern and central provinces, the southern parts of Fujian, Jiangxi and Hunan, and the northeastern parts of Guangdong and Guangxi will be hit hard by rainstorms, the observatory said.

Winds measuring up to nine on the Beaufort Scale are expected on parts of the coast in south and east China, it said.

The observatory also warned of potential floods, mud-flows and other land disasters, prompted by heavy rains in the south.

At 3:00 p.m., rainfall in the worst-hit provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan and Fujian had reached 174.9 millimeters, 156 millimeters and 199.7 millimeters respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2006)