Coastal provinces bracing for typhoon Haitang
By Shao Xiaoyi in Hangzhou, and？8u Meidong, Li Dapeng in Fuzhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-19 05:59

Huang Liying, a cleaner in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian, was one of those who did not go to work yesterday to prepare for the storm.

"I stored some water and food after I heard the news," she said. "Who knows whether power and water supplies will be cut off when the typhoon comes?"

Power was lost several times in some downtown office buildings yesterday afternoon due to already strong winds.

"We had to turn on the spare electrical generator to assure power supply in our building," a worker surnamed Qiu said in the property maintenance office of Zhidi Plaza in Fuzhou while helping his colleagues restore power.

Forecasters were predicting winds of more than 120 kmh, and "the impact on our province will be pretty big," said a local weather bureau spokeswoman.

To keep the damage to a minimum, Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday urged local governments in Fujian to be well prepared.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters issued a circular, calling on local governments to move people to safe places and to take effective measures to safeguard people's lives and property.

Fujian reported more than 530,000 residents were moved off ships and boats and out of coastal areas. Zhejiang has evacuated 326,000 people and arranged for 25,000 ships to take shelter in its harbours, Xinhua reported.

Special teams from power, transport, communication and water supply sectors were on duty to protect and maintain facilities.