Deadly typhoon bears down on HK
(Agencies/China Daily)
Updated: 2006-05-17 11:39 The Guangzhou Meteorological Station forecast that the typhoon may land in
the coastal regions between Shenzhen and Raoping County Wednesday afternoon or
Thursday morning.
But Chanchu may also change direction towards Fujian Province or the Taiwan
Straits, said Huang Zhong, the chief weatherman with the Guangzhou station.
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Several
cyclists ride through a bridge as strong waves rage in Zhuhai, south
China's Guangdong province May 16, 2006. Typhoon Chanchu is barrelling
towards southern China after claiming at least 41 lives in the
Philippines and becoming the strongest storm on record to enter the South
China sea in May. [Xinhua]
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The cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou in the province have warned small ships
and fishing boats on the open seas to seek shelter.
Wang Yongxin, chief forecaster of Guangdong Marine Observatory, said Shantou
in the eastern part of the province could be hardest hit.
Fujian and Hainan provinces were also braced for damage with the latter
ordering a halt to sea and rail transport across the Qiongzhou Strait between
the island and Guangdong.
In Shenzhen, local authorities issued landslide warnings at some high-risk
places and were ready to evacuate people if necessary. Advertisement billboards
in the city were either reinforced or removed.
Once signals of a strong typhoon or strong storm are sent, schools should
suspend classes immediately and ensure the students go back home safely,
according to education officials.
The city will open all temporary shelters during the typhoon period; and the
government has advised people to stay at home, close windows and move flowerpots
from balconies.
Chanchu, which means "pearl" in Chinese, swept over the Philippines last
weekend, killing 37 people and destroying thousands of homes.
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