Zhejiang Province in east China issued a tropical storm alert on Saturday morning, as severe tropical storm Kalmaegi entered the province after a landfall in southeastern Fujian Province Friday evening.

The Zhejiang Observatory monitored the eye of the weakening storm in Taishun County on Saturday morning, packing up winds up to force 8, and moving at 10 km per hour northwest.

Due to its effect, force 9-11 winds are expected to sweep along Zhejiang's coast and downpours are expected to hit most areas of the province.

Several cities in the province, including Wenzhou, Taizhou, Ningbo and Zhoushan, have evacuated a total of 232,533 people from low-lying areas for safety concerns.

Kalmaegi brought heavy rains to Fujian after its landing in Changchun Town, Xiapu County, with 21 counties in the province receiving precipitations of over 100 millimeters. No casualties were immediately available.

Kalmaegi killed at least six people in Taiwan after making landfall in the northeast coast of the island late on Thursday when it was a typhoon.

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2008)