Typhoon pounds Fujian, forcing evacuation
By Bao Daozu (China Daily/Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-09-02 05:34

China's Central Observatory said Talim has been downgraded to a strong tropical storm, and will continue to affect other coastal regions, including the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Shanghai Municipality today.

The storm was moving northwest towards Jiangxi at about 22 kilometres per hour.

Just to the north in Zhejiang, more than 291,000 people were moved away from the coastline, rivers, aging reservoirs, mountain villages and dilapidated housing, according to China News Service.

More than 29,000 ships and fishing vessels took shelter in harbours, it said.

In Fuzhou, capital of Fujian, heavy winds and strong rain knocked out power to large parts of the city, the news website www.sina.com.cn reported.

Floodwaters turned many streets into rivers, causing a number of breakdowns that blocked traffic.

Zheng Youqi, a taxi driver, said it took much more time to reach destinations than usual. "My car is swimming in the flooded street," he said.

Talim left Taiwan's west coast earlier yesterday after killing 2 people and injuring 39. Damage from the storm was largely limited to fallen trees and signboards, although schools, offices and financial markets were closed in most parts of the island.

The number of households in Taiwan without power was as high as 1.48 million at one point, but electricity has since been restored to about half, officials said.