300,000 evacuated as typhoon Nesat lands
Updated: 2011-09-30 07:21
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
|
A woman braves the rain as typhoon Nesat approaches in Sanya, Hainan province, Sept 29, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Packing winds of 42 meters per second at its center, it made landfall in Wengtian Township in Wenchang at 2:30 pm, bringing heavy winds and torrential rain to the city in eastern Hainan.
The city had evacuated 57,738 people from disaster-prone areas, including low-lying areas and fishing boats, said Fu Taosheng, deputy director of the city's flood control and drought relief headquarters.
According to the provincial meteorological bureau, precipitation in 72 townships in the province exceeded 100 mm between 8 am and 4 pm Thursday.
The province has also recalled ships, suspended flight and ferry services and closed schools in preparation for Nesat, which is the 17th typhoon to hit China this year as well as the strongest.
It is also the strongest typhoon to hit Hainan since 2005, said Cai Qinbo, head of the provincial weather station.
Chen Cheng, vice governor of Hainan, ordered all fishing boats to return to harbor and fishermen to take shelter ashore. So far, a total of 27,223 fishing boats have been recalled to harbor.
The storm seriously disrupted local transportation services.
All flights were canceled at the Sanya Phoenix International Airport on Thursday, while 143 flights were canceled and 32 delayed in Haikou Meilan Airport.
Passenger ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait have been suspended since Wednesday, while railway services stopped Thursday morning.
As a result, vegetables could not be transported from other parts of the country, causing prices to surge on Thursday. In the provincial capital of Haikou, prices of vegetables, including cabbage, lettuce and tomato, rose by as much as 33 percent.
Hainan has stopped selling bus tickets and encouraged passengers that had planned to take buses in the next two days to return their tickets.
To ensure children's safety, all kindergartens, primary and middle schools in Wenchang, Sanya, Qionghai and Haikou, have suspended classes from Thursday to Friday.
Li Hongbo, director of the provincial water resources bureau, said the government has given orders to ensure the safety of all reservoirs and to protect people living in both low-lying regions and areas downstream from dangerous reservoirs.
The State Oceanic Administration on Thursday sent a work team to Hainan to assist with disaster relief operations.
At 9:15 pm, Typhoon Nesat landed in Xuwen County in Guangdong Province, packing strong winds and unleashing downpours, according to the provincial weather station.
It is still moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour, on course to enter the Beibu Gulf, the station said.
Nesat sent surging waves crashing over seawalls. The strong waves have also damaged sections of seawalls in Guangdong.
Residents living near the seawalls have already been evacuated, according to the provincial flood control headquarters.
The typhoon has also brought storms to neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, forcing over 3,000 schools to close.
The typhoon killed at least 35 in the Philippines.
Related Stories
Typhoon Nesat leaves 31 dead in Philippines 2011-09-29 10:05
100,000 flee as typhoon hits Philippines 2011-09-27 06:36
Today's Top News
Online land of milk and honey
Push for greater role in economic decision-making
Schengen agreement under threat: Tusk
Myanmar's opposition wins right to form new govt
China's migrant population expected to reach 291m by 2020
China sends more currency overseas to meet demand
Little Chinese speakers hatch in UK's first bilingual nursery
China mourns death of former German chancellor
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Xi just needs to turn up for a grand welcome |
Stepping up |
Rural families still hope for male heirs |
Blue skies over Beijing ... for now |
V-Day parade for 70th WWII anniversary |
Tianjin blasts: Death, damage and bravery |