East China's Fujian and Zhejiang Provinces relocated on Monday more than 600,000 citizens from coastal areas in case of strikes from the typhoon Haitang, which is reported to land from Monday night to Tuesday.
Fujian started the relocation on Saturday. About 316,000 fishermen and people working on the sea were evacuated to disembark while 223,000 people living in the areas prone to be hitby the typhoon were also relocated, said the provincial government source.
17,100 fishing boats, engineering ships and merchant boats were ordered to enter the nearby harbors.
The provincial government mobilized 5,000 armed police, to prepare for disaster relief and rescue operations.
In the nearby Zhejiang Province, the government relocated more than 120,000 people as of 9:00 a.MA. Monday.
Governor Lu Zushan ordered on Monday at a flood control and drought relief meeting that all the relocation work must be finished before 6:00 PA.MA. Monday.
In the city of Wenzhou, which is expected to be seriously hit by the typhoon, 77,157 people were relocated to safe places and 6,332 ships were perched in harbors.
The forecast of the China Meteorological Administration said the typhoon Haitang will land from facing to chows in Fujian.
(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2005)
