South China's coastal province of Fujian has launched emergency countermeasures against the coming tropical storm of Sanvu.

The cities of Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Putian and Fuzhou, which might directly confronted with Sanvu, are the key places for flood control, said Liu Dezhang, vice governor of the province, at the meeting organized by the provincial flood and drought control headquarters yesterday afternoon.

While, the mountainous areas should make full preparations for any geographical disasters, such as mud-rock flow and landslides, said Liu.

In addition, governments along the coast should ask all the vessels back to ports by Friday night, said Liu.

The tropical storm is moving with a speed of 15 kilometers per hour toward the Chinese mainland and is forecast to slam into the coastal areas of southern Fujian and Guangdong provinces from Saturday afternoon to Sunday.

According to the Fujian Provincial Meteorological Station, Sanvu is hanging on the Bashi Strait, southeastward to Shantou, a city in south China's Guangdong Province.

Influenced by the typhoon, beginning Friday, rains and strong winds will hit the whole province of Fujian, and some areas in the province will see heavy to torrential rains.

Typhoon Matsa, which just left China's mainland, swept through eastern coastal areas since Aug. 6, dumping torrential rains and causing massive economic losses in affected areas.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2005)