Shanghai canceled several passenger ferries yesterday and
ordered flood control and construction authorities to prepare for
heavy rain and brisk winds as Tropical Storm Kaemi rolled into the
mainland's southern coast.
The wet weather is expected to sweep the city through at least
tomorrow, with daily temperatures running between 27 and 31 degrees
Celsius.
Passenger ships from Shanghai's Luchao and Wusong ports to
Shengsi, Putuo Mountain, and Dinghai in Zhejiang Province were
suspended yesterday and were not expected to resume until tomorrow
or Friday.
At Baoyang Port, smaller ferries bound for Chongming Island were
canceled and will not operate until the weather improves.
Flights from Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport
were running normally last night.
Shanghai Flood Control Headquarters yesterday ordered all
drainage authorities to keep workers on call around the clock to
deal with possible flooding.
Flood officials also ordered all government departments to make
sure billboards, decorative lighting, scaffolding and
telecommunications poles are secured.
Shanghai's two manmade beach resorts took measures to prevent
their sand from being blown away by the storm. Twenty to 30 pipes
were laid on Golden Beach in Fengxian District to spray water to
stabilize the sand.
"We had a rehearsal last week, and the effect was impressive,"
said Miao Yiwei, general manager of Shanghai Baystar Leisure and
Entertainment Co.
Forty sprinklers were set up on City Beach in Jinshan District,
and covers were used in other areas.
The Jinshan Coastline Development Management Committee urged
vendors to withdraw from the beach and warned it will close the
area if the storm becomes too strong.
Both beaches suffered sand losses about two weeks ago when
Tropical Storm Bilis hit the city.
(Shanghai Daily July 26, 2006)