304,000 evacuated for Typhoon Soulik in E China

FUZHOU - A total of 304,000 people have been evacuated in East China's Fujian province, as Typhoon Soulik began to hit the province on Saturday, the provincial flood control headquarters said.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) said Soulik, the seventh typhoon in this year, made landfall on the Huangqi Peninsula in Fujian at 4 pm Saturday.

Wind speeds at the typhoon's center reached a top speed of 118 km per hour as it landed, the NMC said.

All maritime transportation to Taiwan has been suspended. Operations in the ports of Fuzhou, Xiamen and Meizhou Bay have also been suspended, according to the provincial headquarters.

Public transportation in the city of Ningde, which is expected to be hit hard by the typhoon, has been suspended since 9:30 am Saturday.

A total of 142 flights have been canceled at the Changle International Airport of Fuzhou, the provincial capital, since Friday night. High-speed train services have also been suspended.

Some 5,500 soldiers have been dispatched to 18 counties to engage in rescue efforts.

The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center on Saturday maintained a top-level warning for sea waves caused by Typhoon Soulik.

During Saturday daytime and night, Soulik is expected to whip up sea waves as high as 6 to 10 meters in the southern part of the East China Sea, waters near the Diaoyu Islands and the northern part of the Taiwan Strait.

Waters near Zhejiang Province and the northern part of Fujian may see waves of 4 to 6.5 meters.