SANYA -- Twelve crew members were rescued from a ship in South China's island province of Hainan early Friday morning as Typhoon Wutip approaches, said local authorities.

The Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport received messages on Thursday evening that, due to Wutip, 12 people on a cargo ship about 14 nautical miles (about 26 kilometers) off a headland in southwestern Hainan needed evacuation.

The rescue vessel departed at 6:30 pm on Thursday and arrived at the site at 11:50 pm, where gales generated waves as high as three meters. Rescuers managed to lift those crew members to safety 43 minutes later, and they are expected to return to an anchorage at noon on Friday.

The evacuees will stay on the rescue vessel, where they will be provided with daily necessities and medical services. They will be taken ashore when weather permits.

Wutip intensified into a severe tropical storm at 8 pm Thursday. As of 10 am on Friday, it was located near Ledong Li autonomous county, Hainan, with winds reaching up to 101 kilometers per hour and moving northwest at a speed of 5 to 10 kilometers per hour.

All kindergartens, schools, construction sites and tourist attractions in Sanya have been closed. Ships are prohibited from sailing, and Sanya airport suspended all flights from 10 pm Thursday. High-speed rail services across Hainan have been halted, with operations expected to resume on Saturday.

The Nanhai Rescue Bureau is closely monitoring Wutip, with seven rescue vessels and four helicopters on standby to respond to emergencies.