Boats recalled as SE China braces for typhoons

FUZHOU - All 39,649 fishing boats in Southeast China's Fujian province have been recalled to ports as local authorities are bracing for two forthcoming typhoons.

The fishing boats are banned from going out to sea before the typhoon alert is lifted, said the provincial flood control office in a press release Saturday.

Meanwhile, 23,659 local aquatic farm workers have been relocated to take shelter from high waves, heavy winds and downpours the typhoons would bring, the office said.

Authorities are also sending out inspectors to reservoirs and sea dykes, especially those under construction, to monitor if there are any dangers.

Direct passenger ferry services from Fujian's Pingtan and Mawei to Taiwan were suspended for days around the weekends.

Tembin, the 14th typhoon of this year, was located at 22.4 north latitude and 118.5 east longitude over the Taiwan Strait at 6 am Saturday, packing winds of up to 36.9 meters per second at its center and moving southwest at 8 km per hour.

Tembin struck southern Taiwan Friday, toppling trees, overturning vehicles and dumping rains that swelled rivers and flooded homes and farmlands.

Bolaven, the 15th typhoon that upgraded to a strong typhoon Friday, is still gaining force while moving northwest at a speed of 15 km per hour. It is expected to upgrade further to a super typhoon and enter the East China Sea on Sunday night, according to the meteorological center of Zhejiang province.

Bolaven was 1,215 km southeast of Xiangshan, Zhejiang, at 8 am Saturday, packing winds of 48 meters per second at its center, the agency said.

The typhoon is expected to bring strong gales and heavy downpours to Zhejiang's central and northern coast and Zhoushan Islands from Sunday to Tuesday.

The authorities have ordered fishing boats to take shelters at ports and vegetable greenhouses, aquatic farms and construction sites to brace for strong gales.

Earlier this month, dual-typhoons "Damrey" and "Saola" left eight people dead and forced the evacuation of about 1.3 million residents in the coastal regions as of Aug 5.