Tropical storm Rumbia strands 800 touritsts

NANNING - More than 800 tourists have been stranded and eight trains have stopped running in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region after tropical storm Rumbia made landfall in neighboring Guangdong province Tuesday morning.

Rumbia, the sixth tropical storm to hit China this year, landed in the city of Zhanjiang at 5:30 am Tuesday and is moving northwest toward Beibu Gulf.

According to the government of Weizhou Township, a small island located in the gulf, more than 800 tourists have been stranded on the island, as downpours, gales and large waves triggered by the tropical storm have resulted in the suspension of transportation services.

The government said the stranded tourists have sufficient supplies of food and other necessities.

The local maritime department has required all boats to return to the island's harbor to dodge strong gales.

The railway bureau of Guangxi's capital of Nanning said three passenger trains and five freight trains were forced to halt operations Tuesday morning.

Guangxi's provincial meteorological department has upgraded severe weather alerts in the region, saying the storm may enter the city of Yulin and continue to move northwest as it loses power.