Typhoon Jangmi expected to affect E China with downpours

The sky is covered with dark clouds at Xiasha Seashore Holiday Resort in Changle, southeast China's Fujian Province Sept. 28, 2008. Local meteorological observatory issued an alarm at about 6 a.m. on Monday, saying that Typhoon Jangmi, the 15th and strongest typhoon of this year, divert after entering Taiwan Straits and will shave coastal areas along Fujian Province. The typhoon was expected to bring heavy rains and high winds in the province. (Xinhua Photo)

A villager collects garbage against wind at Xiasha Seashore Holiday Resort in Changle, southeast China's Fujian Province Sept. 28, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

A tourist protects herself against wind in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province Sept. 28, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

FUZHOU, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Jangmi shaved the coastal area of east China's Fujian Province early on Monday and moved northeastward to Zhejiang Province and Shanghai, local meteorological bureau said.

Jangmi, the 15th and strongest typhoon of this year, ebbed and changed its path to northeast after landing in Yilan, Taiwan, at 3:40 p.m. Sunday.

The eye of the typhoon was about 200 km southeast of Fuding in Fujian at 7 a.m., packing winds of up to force 12, or 126 km per hour, according to the Fujian Provincial Meteorological Bureau.

It was expected to keep ebbing in the next two days and move at15 to 20 km per hour to Zhejiang and Shanghai, bringing the eastern coastal areas force 11-12 winds and torrential rains.

Though the typhoon did not make landfall in Fujian, it was a close shave, said the provincial meteorological bureau, which issued an orange warning alert for typhoon, the second level alert next to the red one, at 6 a.m. on Monday.

In Fujian, which faces Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, downpours were forecast in six cities of Ningde, Fuzhou, Putian, Xiamen, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou for the following two days, with a maximum rainfall of 100 mm.

Navigation has been suspended across the Taiwan Strait due to strong winds and waves, and all sea tours have been suspended in Fujian and Zhejiang.

In Zhejiang, 209,065 residents were evacuated from low-lying areas and more than 26,000 boats returned to harbor.

Jangmi is coming on the heels of Hagupit, the 14th strong typhoon of this year. It landed in the southern Guangdong Province last Wednesday.

Hagupit left China on Thursday and moved into Vietnam, after killing at least 17 people.