Fengshen to sweep over southern China

By Lydia Chen and Li Xinran  |   2008-6-25  |     ONLINE EDITION

DOWNPOURS caused by tropical storm Fengshen are expected to sweep over a big area of southern China today and tomorrow, Xinhua news agency reported today.

Most areas in Guangdong Province and part of south China's Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, southwestern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as central China's Hunan province will endure heavy or torrential rain, according to Xinhua.

Flood control authorities in Shenzhen said they have not received any reports of injuries or property damage caused by tropical storm Fengshen since it began lashing Guangdong Province early this morning, Xinhua news agency reported.

Several flights and ferries were delayed in Shenzhen.

The storm made landfall in Shenzhen at 5:30am with winds of up to 83 kilometers per hour, according to the provincial meteorological station.

As of 8am, no casualties had been reported and authorities in Shenzhen said they will keep a close eye on the storm.

Rainfall at eight monitoring stations in Shenzhen had reached as much as 38.2 millimeters by 8am.

The Shenzhen meteorological station forecast up to 200 millimeters of rain today and tomorrow.

The city closed middle and primary schools, as did Hong Kong, which borders Shenzhen.

Heavy rain and strong winds have already hit central and southern parts of Guangdong.

The provincial weather station said the storm would continue to move north and lose strength.

More than 13,000 ships in Guangdong returned to harbor to take shelter from the storm.

Meanwhile, a flood prevention emergency response plan was activated today in Jiangxi Province. Heavy rain was forecast in the east and south today through Saturday.

The Jiangxi flood control headquarters sent two work teams to help with flood prevention.

The Central Meteorological Station forecast early today that heavy rain would sweep across Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi and Hunan.