Fitow hits Chinese coast

China evacuated over a half a million people to safety asTyphoon Fitow hit the eastern Fujian province in the wee hours on Monday, packing winds up to 151 km per hour.

The storm, the 23rd typhoon to hit China this year, landed in Shacheng Township of Fuding City. It will continue to move northwestward but weaken quickly, China Meteorological Centre has said.  A red alert, the highest warning, was issued for Fitow on Sunday. Cities such as Fuzhou and Sanming in Fujian will see rain of more than 200 mm from Sunday night to Monday morning, said the Fujian flood control authorities.  Due to the typhoon, power was cut off in Taishun County, Zhejiang Province since last night. The power blackout also hit many townships in Cangnan, Wencheng, Pingyang and Dongtou counties in Zhejiang. Quoting Mao Fanggui, director of the emergency office in Taishun County, Xinhua news agency has reported that downpour was lashing the county and most townships in the county were hit by blackout.  A boy in Cangnan County was injured in the abdomen by glass debris due to strong winds. He was being treated by doctors. Rainstorm and winds up to 201 km per hour slashed Cangnan County and the Nanji Island Township, and some houses collapsed in the county, said the Wenzhou flood control headquarters.  So far some 5. 74 lakh people were evacuated and 35,795 vessels returned to harbour for shelter, said the Zhejiang Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters. In Fujian, 177,000 people were displaced and nearly 30,000 fishing boats were called back. The typhoon has caused suspension of bullet trains in several cities in Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi and halted services on at least 35 lines that pass cities on the typhoon route, including services between Beijing and Nanjing, Shanghai, Ningbo, Fuzhou and Xiamen.  Wenzhou Airport, a pivotal airport in Zhejiang Province, cancelled 27 flights on Sunday, including flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Kunming. Coach services between Shanghai and Wenzhou were also suspended.  Maritime authorities in Fujian and Zhejiang have closed seaside bathing centres and other entertainment facilities on the coast.