The tropical storm Sanvu hit southern coastal areas over the
weekend, the tenth to affect China this year, claiming at least two
lives, according to reports by China Daily and Xinhua News
Agency today.
The two fatalities were in Guangdong
Province, where another six were injured and direct economic
losses of 180 million yuan (US$22 million) caused.
A 2-meter wall on a construction site collapsed in Shenzhen's
Bao'an District, killing two pedestrians and injuring three
others.
Another three workers were injured in Guangzhou when a temporary
shed at a construction site collapsed in the city's Haizhu
District.
The provincial government had to seek help from Hong Kong
agencies to rescue six fishermen after their boat was stranded
during the storm near Shanwei City.
The provinces of Fujian
and Hunan,
in east and central China respectively, were also affected.
Fujian's provincial flood control office said on Sunday that
2.113 million people had been affected there, with the heaviest
rainfall of 558 mm recorded in Pinghe County. Another 302,000
people were evacuated, 61,500 hectares of crops damaged and 3,100
houses flattened, causing economic losses of 1.63 billion yuan
(US$200 million).
Hunan, which has been experiencing severe drought that has left
hundreds of thousands without drinking water, was expected to
receive heavy rains yesterday and today. Though it was hoped that
water shortages would be relieved, local meteorologists also warned
of possible floods.
(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2005)