Typhoon Kaemi struck the coast of East China's Fujian Province yesterday
afternoon, prompting the evacuation of more than 500,000 residents.
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Soldiers patrol
dykes shortly before Typhoon Kaemi makes a landfall at Jinjiang in East
China's Fujian Province. [Xinhua] |
The typhoon
which pummelled Taiwan overnight, causing widespread disruption to daily life
but not enormous damage packed winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour as it
landed at Weitou town of Jinjiang city at 3:50 pm, the China Meteorological
Administration reported.
Meteorologists forecast that Kaemi the fifth typhoon of the year would move
northwest and bring torrential rains to Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi and Zhejiang
provinces in the next two days.
In anticipation of Kaemi's wrath, more than 435,000 people were evacuated
from Fujian, while another 80,000 were moved from their homes in neighbouring
Zhejiang Province.
The typhoon had earlier brushed past the Philippines, causing heavy rain
there.
The evacuees in Fujian include those working in fish farms on the sea,
fishermen and residents in low-lying areas, Xinhua News Agency said.
About 44,000 fishing boats were ordered to return to harbour by yesterday,
while flights from Xiamen city were postponed or cancelled.
Local authorities were advised to monitor the safety of people living in
makeshift shelters at coal mines and in mountainous areas and to boost patrols
along reservoirs and dams in preparation for flooding.
Fujian is ready with 12,000 tents, 50,000 quilts, 80,000 items of clothing
and a five-day supply of food for 300,000 people, Xinhua said.
Guangdong Province urged all fishing ships to return to local shelters and
ordered construction sites to stop work during storms.
In Shantou alone, more than 2,700 ships have returned to harbours, with all
fishermen leaving the vessels by noon yesterday.
Frequent storms and typhoons since June have resulted in heavy casualties and
huge losses.
