Shipping, flights suspended as tropical storm nears China

Aug 30, 2011, 9:59 GMT

Beijing - Tropical Storm Nanmadol forced the suspension of shipping and some flights as it approached south-eastern China's Fujian province on Tuesday after leaving at least 22 people dead in the Philippines.

Thousands of people were evacuated from fishing fleets in vulnerable areas as Nanmadol, downgraded from a typhoon, brought gales and heavy rain early Tuesday, state media said.

Weather forecasters said high tides and torrential rain were expected later Tuesday, warning of possible floods and landslides.

Shipping was suspended on Monday afternoon from Fujian's Xiamen city to Taiwan's Jinmen island, while Fujian's Jinjiang airport cancelled at least six flights on Tuesday, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Authorities in Fujian's Quanzhou city mobilized 41,000 people into rescue teams, the agency said.

Firefighters rescued 28 children and teachers on Tuesday after a kindergarten was cut off by floods in Xiaquan village in neighbouring Zhejiang province, it said.

Nanmadol killed at least 22 people, left 12 missing and damaged millions of dollars' worth of infrastructure and crops after battering the Philippines over the weekend, the Philippine government said on Tuesday.