Villagers are picking up the pieces after Typhoon Rananim
continued its path of destruction in east China's Zhejiang
Province. It has caused more than 100 casualties and massive
destruction in Taizhou City.
Local villages were submerged, crops destroyed, and factories
and houses collapsed. As Rananim now makes its way for Jiangxi
Province, rescue workers continue to look for victims of one of the
worst typhoons to hit the region in seven years.
A residential compound in Taizhou City was hit hard by the
typhoon. Residents and relief workers are clearing up and beginning
to rebuild homes.
Since it first hit Zhejiang on Thursday, the devastating typhoon
has flattened over 42,000 houses and damaged 88,000 more. It also
left in its wake 115 victims, most of whom were killed when their
houses collapsed. Another 88,000 were injured.
Meanwhile, water and power supplies, and transportation and
communications facilities that had been disrupted are being
restored. Officials are hoping to learn from recent events, saying
they will look at ways to build houses that are able to resist
typhoons, so as to keep future losses to a minimum.
Typhoon Rananim first landed in Wenling City on Thursday night.
The heavy storm and rainfall destroyed 10 percent of the fishing
boats in the city famous for fishery, and the rescue team has
organized the fishermen to repair them.
Since most of the collapsed houses are in rural areas, Zhejiang
authorities have rushed to erect enough tents for the affected
villagers. Meanwhile, relief workers are distributing food, quilts
and clothing to the victims, and asking the residents to be on a
high alert against possible infectious diseases.
(CCTV.com, August 15, 2004)