Posted on 08/10/2006 5:24:38 PM PDT by blam
China hit by strongest typhoon for half a century
· 1.5 million evacuated, state of emergency declared
· Summer of damage for storm-devastated region
Jonathan Watts in Beijing
Friday August 11, 2006
The Guardian (UK)
The most powerful typhoon to strike China for half a century tore into one of the country's manufacturing heartlands yesterday, killing at least two people, injuring 80 and forcing the evacuation of 1.5 million residents. With winds of up to 135mph, typhoon Saomai hit the coastal town of Mazhan in Zhejiang province, dumping a torrent of rain on a region still recovering from earlier floods. A dozen people are missing.
The local authorities declared a state of emergency and the Red Cross has launched an appeal for the victims of an unusually ferocious summer of storms. Eight typhoons have hit south-east China this year, killing more than 1,700 people and causing £10bn-worth of damage.
The typhoon slowed after it reached land, but the human and financial toll is expected to increase once the centre of the storm hits Wenzhou, a port city that is home to a million people. Saomai - described by Chinese meteorologists as a "super typhoon" because of its size and speed - has already wreaked havoc elsewhere. In the Philippines, it killed at least two people. In Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, it has forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
Yesterday it hit Zhejiang and Fujian, two of China's most industrialised coastal provinces. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the typhoon claimed two lives in Fuding, which is on the border of the two provinces.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Dang! So that's where our hurricanes are!
Must be like, karma or something....
I was thinking something like that too.
2 dead, 1.5 MILLION evacuated. Paging Mr Ray Nagin......
Bush's fault.
I hope FEMA has learned from its mistakes in NO.
Those of us who always watch the tropics don't want to cry wolf by sweating the small stuff, or sounding the alarms too early. There is so much else about the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions of these United States to enjoy besides tropical storms. Here's hoping for an Al Gore in-your-face quiet storm season.
When a storm has real potential to threaten our safety and livelihood, we'll be on alert 24/7 per usual.
Watch for "nature's" ongoing destruction in China, Russia, and very possibly in Iran.
Wen Blo
Thiu Phuk Ing Hod
It's a lot easier to evacuate when the state can say "Leave now or we'll shoot you." :)
I think that "New Orleans Heineken guy" is now assured of being a significant presence on the Internet forever.
I did it.
Signed,
Karl Rove
The real reason for this typhoon was because China didn't sign the Kyoto Treaty. (Yes, I am well aware China wasn't included in the list of nations named in the treaty). LOL.
And of course...it's Bush's fault.
What was going on 50 years ago?
He's a man of taste and refinement Fur Shur.
Very good! Laughed until my rib cage rattled.
sept Looty be takin the TsingTau... 8^)
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