The South China Sea storm, which also carries the name "Hanna," carried winds of about 40 mph, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported Sunday. Forecasters at the Guangdong provincial meteorological observatory said Lekima -- named for a Vietnamese fruit -- appeared to be gaining momentum, Xinhua said.

The storm was expected to hit south China's Guangdong and Hainan provinces during the first two or three days of the country's "golden week" national holiday.

When Lekima hit the northern Philippines Saturday, it caused heavy rains that triggered flooding and mudslides blamed for at least eight deaths. The fatalities were reported in the village of Ifugao, where houses were washed away and the victims were buried under stones and mud, local radio station DZMM reported.