China evacuates over 1.45 lakh people from typhoon-hit city

Meranti is the 10th typhoon to hit China in the year of 2010.

Beijing: China on Friday evacuated over 1.45 lakh people to safety in southeastern Shishi city in Fujian province after a typhoon hit the region triggering landslides.

Meranti, the 10th typhoon to hit China this year, made landfall on Shishi at 3:30 am local time, packing winds of up to 35 metres per second.

A total of 1,45,300 people were evacuated to avoid rain-and wind-triggered accidents, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

About 33,200 fishing boats returned to port last evening to take refuge.

Meranti will bring up to 100 mm of rainfall to Fujian`s Quanzhou, Putian, Fuzhou and Ningde cities, according to meteorological authorities.

The typhoon has brought heavy rains and strong winds to neighbouring Zhejiang Province too. It is expected to cross into Zhejiang later in the day.

Meranti will move northwestward at a speed of 20 km per hour and gradually weaken, authorities forecast.

PTI

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