Sea and land warnings were issued yesterday in southeastern
China ahead of the arrival of tropical storm Bilis.
Local meteorological departments said the storm is forecast to
hit Taiwan and Fujian Provinces in the next two days.
Other coastal provinces, such as Zhejiang, Guangdong and
Jiangxi, have issued notices, urging relevant departments to
implement effective measures to prevent potential disasters and
loss of life, reports said.
According to Fujian provincial observatory yesterday, the
center of Bilis was located in the ocean to the southeast of
Taiwan, or 20.8-north latitude and 126-east longitude. It is moving
at a speed of 15-20 kilometers per hour and is predicted to arrive
in Fujian on Saturday.
The storm, expected to evolve into a typhoon within 48 hours,
was approaching offshore areas east of Taiwan yesterday, packing
winds of 102 kilometers per hour.
The tropical storm will bring heavy rainstorms and strong gales
to the Taiwan Straits.
A consulting conference was held yesterday between observatories
at central and provincial levels to discuss the storm's route and
severity.
Fishery departments in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces have issued notices to call
back all ships operating or traveling at sea.
At the same time, land and resources departments have urged
local governments to take preventative measures to avoid possible
landslides and rock and mudflows. Farmers are being advised to
harvest crops before the arrival of the storm, reports said.
Meanwhile, disaster relief efforts are continuing in south
China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after eight
people were killed in a two-day rainstorm that began on
Saturday.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs has dispatched a work team to
direct emergency support, according to ministry official Li Baojun
yesterday.
?(China Daily July 13, 2006)