国内英语资讯:Typhoon Sarika makes landfall in south China, 500,000 evacuated_时事

国内英语资讯:Typhoon Sarika makes landfall in south China, 500,000 evacuated

Local traffic police reported that gales and wet roads were to blame for the overturning of a passenger bus carrying 45 people on one of Hainan's major highways Monday night. Severe waterlogging was reported in some counties and low-lying rural areas, in addition to landslides and mud-flows on Tuesday. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

However, 31 cattle in Dongxing, Wanning, where the storm landed, were electrocuted Tuesday morning by a falling high-voltage line, which ran above the animals' shed. The residents of the farm were evacuated to a safe building on Monday evening.

Provincial meteorological station chief Cai Qinbo previously predicted losses from the typhoon would be "grave," as the cyclone was projected to be the most powerful and destructive to land in Hainan in a decade.

Cai drew an analogy between Sarika and a typhoon that hit Hainan in 2005 which triggered flash floods, destroyed roads and plantations.

From 8 a.m. Monday to 1 p.m. Tuesday, four townships in Hainan reported more than 300 mm of rainfall, according to the provincial meteorological station.

Classes have been suspended in kindergartens, middle and primary schools in eight counties in the province, and tourist sites are closed to the public. Residents and tourists have been warned against hiking or strolling along the beaches.

Authorities have also ordered safety checks of reservoirs and power and water supplies, while demanding that fishery and farming entities take extra precautions.