09-15-2008 19:34

Typhoon Sinlaku weakened into a tropical storm on Monday morning. About 460,000 people in east China's Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces have been evacuated as Sinlaku approaches.

Waves hit the coast as typhoon Sinlaku approaches Nanfangauo. About 460,000 people in east China's Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces have been evacuated as tropical storm Sinlaku, which was weakened from a typhoon on Monday morning, was approaching.(Xinhua/AFP)

The Fujian provincial headquarters for flood control said close to 230,000 people had been evacuated as of Sunday evening, and the mass evacuation was still under way. In Zhejiang, 230,000 residents have also been evacuated, and 30,000 fishing boats have been recalled to harbor.

Local weather authorities said Sinlaku's eye was reported to be almost 200 kilometers southeast of the city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang at 11 AM. They said it was moving northwestward at a speed of 5 kilometers per hour.

The Zhejiang Meteorological Bureau said it was very likely the tropical storm would change its direction to north-northeast in the offshore waters of Zhejiang and would not make landfall in the Chinese mainland.

Heavy rains were reported in eastern and northern parts of Zhejiang and central and northern parts of Fujian on Monday morning.