BEIJING, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has sent 1,000 tents to the southernmost province of Hainan to help shelter hundreds of thousands of people affected by typhoon Lekima.

    Lekima, the 15th severe tropical storm this year, left China for Vietnam on Wednesday night after more than 225,000 people were evacuated in the province. Most of the evacuees were fishermen and the occupants of unstable buildings.

Big waves are triggered by the wind as Lekima approaches in Lingshui County, the intending landing point of the typhoon, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 2, 2007. The severe tropical storm Lekima was upgraded to typhoon Tuesday afternoon and is moving closer towards south China's island province of Hainan, where 100,000 people have been evacuated, local authorities said. More than 20,000 fishing boats have been recalled to harbor.   (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Lekima, named after a fruit in Vietnam, made landfall in Sanya, a coastal city in Hainan, at 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday, bringing downpours and high winds to almost every city and county.

    But local authorities said no casualties had yet been reported, and all the 1,064 reservoirs or dam projects in the province remained intact due to prompt protective measures.

    The typhoon killed at least eight people in northern Philippines and triggered landslides, floods and high waves.

Visitors brave the strong wind at the shore of Qionghai city, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 2, 2007. Strong Wind and heavy rain hit the city as the 15th severe tropical storm Lekima approached. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>