Clouds shroud the sky in Ningde, east
China's Fujian Province, July 18, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
FUZHOU, July 18 (Xinhua) -- China's eastern coastal
Fujian and Zhejiang provinces have evacuated 360,000 people and called 61,000
fishing vessels back to harbor to brace for the weakening tropical storm
Kalmaegi, which has killed at least six people in Taiwan.
Fujian has evacuated nearly 30,000 workers in the
coastal waters and 150,000 people on 35,000 fishing vessels returning to harbor,
the provincial flood control authorities said.
Neighboring Zhejiang had evacuated nearly 180,000
people and ordered 26,000 fishing boats back to harbor as of 2 p.m. Friday, the
Zhejiang provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said.
Kalmaegi made landfall near Ilan in northern Taiwan
late on Thursday when it was a typhoon. At least six people have been reported
dead on the island. The storm also damaged many key roads and affected rail
services in some areas on the island.
Kalmaegi weakened into a severe tropical storm at 2
a.m. Friday.
At 4 p.m. Friday, the storm was spotted on the sea
waters 80 kilometers southeast of Xiapu, Fujian, with winds of up to 90 km per
hour, according to the Fujian provincial meteorological station.
The storm is moving northwest and is forecast to made
landfall in the coastal areas between Xiapu and Fuding in Fujian, late on
Friday, the station said.
Kalmaegi, the seventh storm this year, is also
expected to affect Shanghai on Friday and Saturday.
Flood control, offshore fishery and marine
authorities in Fujian, Zhejiang and Shanghai have sent out warnings to prepare
for the storm. All vessels have been advised to return to port.
FUZHOU, July
18 (Xinhua) -- Severe tropical storm Kalmaegi made landfall in the coastal
area of Fujian Province on Friday evening, the provincial meteorological station said.
The storm landed in Changchun Town, Xiapu County at
6:10 p.m. with winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour, the station
said. Full story
