27,700 Evacuated As Tropical Storm Nock-Ten Hits South China

Ships anchor at a port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, July 29, 2011.
As the island braces for tropical storm Nock-Ten, the Hainan provincial government has ordered all fishing boats to return to port. The government has also ordered authorities to ensure the safety of all reservoirs and to evacuate people living in low-lying regions and downstream of dangerous reservoirs. Also, shipping services across the Qiongzhou Strait, which seperates Guangdong Province from the island, will be suspended as of Friday, according to Hainan's maritime affairs bureau. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
HAIKOU, July 29 (Xinhua) -- More than 27,700 people were evacuated before tropical storm Nock-Ten made landfall over the southern island province of Hainan late Friday afternoon.vNock-Ten was recorded as packing winds of up to 28 meters per second in Longlou Township in the city of Wenchang at 5:40 p.m., the provincial meteorological center said in a statement.vThe tropical storm has brought strong winds and heavy rains and has reduced visibility. More at link.