East China evacuates 249,000 people as Typhoon Aere approaches

SHANGHAI (AFP) Aug 24, 2004
East China's Zhejiang province has evacuated some 249,000 people as Typhoon Aere is forecast to make landfall in the coastal province Wednesday, state media said.

Xinhua news agency said nearly 31,500 fishing boats in the province were also called back to port as a precaution.

Aere, which pounded Taiwan Tuesday as it headed towards mainland China, follows close on the heels of Typhoon Rananim which killed at least 164 people and injured 1,800 as it carved a trail of destruction through Zhejiang earlier this month.

Aere means "storm" in the Marshall Islands where it began.

TERRA.WIRE