Kammuri, the ninth tropical storm of the year, weakened into tropical low pressure system and all but ceased to affect south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as of Friday.

Chen Jian, chief forecaster with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Weather Observatory, said that as of 2 p.m. on Friday, a weak Kammuri had moved into northern Vietnam and its impact on Guangxi was on the wane.

"The southwest monsoon, however, will be very active in the forthcoming three to five days, so rain will continue in the southern part of Guangxi, with torrential rain in some areas. Thus, precautions should be taken," said Chen.

Kammuri produced heavy rain on the Leizhou Peninsula in southwestern Guangdong, after an evening landfall from Xitou Town, Yangxi County in the province, on Wednesday.

It made another landfall in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region at 2:50 PM on Thursday after lashing across neighboring Guangdong Province and the Beibu Gulf.

According to Chen, Kammuri packed strong wind and torrential rain before and while sweeping through Guangxi.

From 8 p.m. on Wednesday to 2:00 PM on Friday, 22 townships in Guangxi had an average rain total of 250 mm, while 147 townships had an average total of 100 mm to 249.9 mm.

The regional department of civil affairs said Kammuri cost Guangxi 61.2 million yuan (about US$8.74 million) in direct economic losses.

About 686,500 people in Guangxi were affected by Kammuri, including 42,100 who were forced to evacuate.

Kammuri was the third storm to hit China this season, after tropical storm Kalmaegi and typhoon Fung-Wong.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2008)