China: 80,000 relocated as Typhoon Son-Tinh hits south coast

Beijing: More than 80,000 people in south China`s Hainan Province have been relocated following the arrival of Typhoon Son-Tinh, which has brought gales and downpours to the region.

The provincial civil affairs bureau said today that 82,326 people have been moved to temporary shelters, where water, food and medicine have been provided. The provincial transportation department said the suspension of train services and shipping across the Qiongzhou Strait, which links Hainan island with Guangdong Province, will continue due to high winds and rains. The meteorological observatory of south China`s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said the storm will make landfall in coastal areas in north Vietnam this afternoon or evening, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The typhoon also brought heavy rains to the cities of Beihai, Qinzhou, Fangchenggang, Chongzuo, Yulin and Nanning today. Water levels on rivers in the worst-hit cities of Beihai, Qinzhou and Fangchenggang have risen significantly. Meteorologists said the government should call fishing boats back to harbours and advise people to stay off the water for the time being. The Guangxi observatory has warned tourism departments and aquafarmers to take preventative measures to mitigate the storm`s impact. PTI