Khanun, the No. 15 typhoon of this year has slammed into Taizhou city of east China's Zhejiang Province at 14:50 PM Sunday, the provincial source announced.

The typhoon, with force exceeding 12, will sweep the cities of Taizhou, Jinhua, Shaoxing, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou and then enter the Taihu Lake.

The province has so far evacuated 814,267 people to safer places, said sources with the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters, adding that about 35,409 ships and vessels have returned to ports.

The headquarters still issued an urgent notice urging local people to prepare for the possible mountain torrents and other geological disasters which might be inflicted by typhoon and torrential rains.

The provincial meteorological bureau forecast that in the coming six hours, strong winds at or above force 12 will sweep the sea waters in the coast of Zhejiang. The coastal and inland areas as well as the rivers and lakes nearby the Hangzhou Bay of Zhejiang will be struck by strong winds with force hitting 8 to 12.

The cities of Wenzhou, Taizhou, Zhoushan, Shaoxing and Ningbo will suffer from torrential rains.

The provincial government urged relevant departments to fully prepare against the typhoon and try every means to protect people's life and property.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2005)