BEIJING, Oct. 31 -- China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Thursday launched a Level-IV emergency response to flooding and typhoons in Shanghai as Typhoon Kong-rey approaches.

Kong-rey is forecast to bring torrential rains to Shanghai from Thursday night to Friday night, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

The typhoon has passed through Taiwan Island and entered the Taiwan Strait. It is expected to start moving in a northeasterly direction off the coast of Zhejiang Province on Friday night.