Typhoon hits China 417000 People Evacuated RAW FOOTAGE
Typhoon Fitow is expected to make landfall early Monday between Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, according to the National Meteorological Center.
Provincial authorities said that by noon Sunday more than 65,000 boats had returned to port or moved to safer areas. Zhejiang's provincial government said 289,000 people had been evacuated from fishing boats and coastal areas. Fujian's government said 128,000 boat workers and dwellers had been evacuated, including 7,000 elderly people and children who were on fishing rafts.
Typhoons hit Taiwan and mainland China forcing the evacuation of hundreds and of thousands of people from their homes.
China is on its highest alert for the second day today and has asked local officials to brace up for the approaching storm with water levels on the coast of Fujian and Zhejiang expected to increase by two metres. China on Sunday issued a red alert as it braced for Typhoon Fitow, with tens of thousands evacuated as the storm is set to slam the country's eastern coast soon.
Fitow, the 23rd typhoon to hit China this year, is forecast to make landfall between east China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces tomorrow morning, the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Centre said.
The typhoon will create waves as high as 10 metres in the south of the East China Sea and the disputed Diaoyu islands, known as Senkaku in Japan.
The forecasting centre has ordered fishermen to return to port. Local authorities were asked to reinforce harbour facilities and repair sea walls to prepare for high tides. Tourist sites on the shoreline will be closed.