Super typhoon threatens Shanghai

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-19-2007 08:43

What could be the most destructive typhoon in a decade is approaching the east coast of China, including the commercial hub Shanghai. Weather forecasters say it may hit land in Zhejiang Province early on Wednesday. Evacuation and other precautionary work is now underway.

Shanghai is moving about 200,000 people living in coastal or low-lying rural areas. The relocation was expected to be completed by Tuesday night.

The national weather authority says Wipha is a "super typhoon".

In the neighboring Zhejiang Province, inland areas also face the threat of floods and landslides caused by torrential rain. Local government announced that the relief work will be complicated and serious. Zhejiang has already suffered heavy rainfall. In some cities, 10 centimeter of rain fell in a day.

Tens of thousands of boats and ships have returned to harbor in Zhejiang, where beach resorts and sea farms were evacuated and ferry services suspended.

On Tuesday, Wipha's center was about 400 kilometers southeast of Zhejiang, and was moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour. The Typhoon was packing wind speeds of around 250 kilometers per hour.

Editor:Zhang Ning