Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in east China have evacuated over 170,000 people from low-lying coastal regions, as the typhoon Sinlaku suggested a move towards them, after it pounded Taiwan early Sunday morning.

The Fujian provincial meteorological observatory monitored the eye of the storm was in Yilan County, Taiwan, at 5:00 AM, packing up winds at 45 meters per second.

Its power started to affect Fujian, as the observatory gave yellow alert, or the second-degree disaster weather warning, to the storm on Sunday, forecasting winds close to hurricane force and heavy rains in the sea area of the Taiwan Straits from Sunday to Monday.

Sinlaku is the 13th tropical storm so far this year. The flood control department in Zhejiang warned that Sinlaku could cause serious geological disasters on its possible course through Ningbo, Taizhou and Wenzhou cities as well as the Zhoushan Islands.

The provincial fisheries bureau has called 29,899 fishing boats to shore, and evacuated 147,181 people to safe places.

Local authorities have urged all coastal scenic spots to shut down business, and persuade tourists to stay in safe places or return home.

In Fujian, more than 30,000 fishermen have returned to harbor on Saturday.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2008)