Typhoon Rananim, the 14th this year, killed at least 63 people
and injured over 1,800 people in east China's Zhejiang
Province, according to a Qiangjiang Evening News
report.
There were also 15 people reported missing, the Zhejiang-based
newspaper reported. The hurricane also pulled down over 2,200
houses.
Meanwhile, 63 fishing boats with more than 60 people on board
were trapped at sea.
Rananim first landed on Shitang Township in the city of Wenling
at 8?PM with winds moving at a speed of 45 meters per second,
bringing the rainstorm to most parts of the province. The
precipitation was as much as 200 millimeters in some areas.
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Shitang Township was plunged into darkness when power was cut
off and signals from telephone and mobile phone services were
reported dead.
The center of the typhoon was moving at 25 kilometers per hour
to the northwest and was expected to tear through southern parts of
cities of Ningbo and Shaoxing, northern part of city of Jinhua, and
southern and western parts of provincial capital city of Hangzhou
and then into east China's Anhui
Province, according to local meteorological observatory.
Strong rainfall hit most coastal areas in Zhejiang. This typhoon
could be stronger than the No 17th typhoon in 1997, which caused
236 deaths and a direct economic loss of 19.77 billion yuan
(US$2.38 billion), experts with Zhejiang Provincial Flood Control
and Drought Relief Headquarters said.
The province had launched emergency programs to evacuate 278,000
people in the coastal areas in Wenzhou, Taizhou and Zhoushan cities
before the typhoon.
Typhoon Rananim would soon land at coastal city of Wenzhou, also
Zhejiang Province.
Premier Wen Jiabao required local authorities to make full
preparations to prevent casualties and reduce losses to the
minimum.
State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters issued a
typhoon emergency alert for the eight provinces and municipalities
in eastern and central China Thursday. The agency called on local
departments to be fully prepared for the typhoon and to inform
residents to brace themselves for more rain and wind.
Preparations had been made in Shanghai for the coming of the
typhoon.
Fortunately, the typhoon was moving northwest toward east
China's Anhui Province and the city was lucky to be only swept by
the edge of the monster storm.
Shanghai municipal construction administration has notified all
construction units to stop work until the removal of the alerts
while enhancing the inspection and management of all construction
sites, fastening scaffolds, cranes and work sheds.
Power sources of all neon signs have been cut off and all
outdoor canvas advertisement signs have been removed in the
city.
Meanwhile, Taiwan suspended ship refueling services at a
northern port and cancelled some inland flights Thursday as strong
winds and heavy rain brought by Typhoon Rananim lashed the
island.
Local media citing the account of a meteorologist, said that
residents should be vigilant against possible landslides, falling
rocks, flash floods and rising water levels as torrential rains are
expected in the north, northeast and south central mountain
regions.
Statistics show that from 1949 to 2003, fourteen typhoons made
landfalls in east China's Fujian
and Zhejiang provinces during the month of August, from the first
through the 20th. Thirteen of the typhoon centers reached inland
areas.
(China Daily August 13, 2004)
