Typhoon Lionrock makes landfall at E China's Fujian

This year's eighth tropical storm, dubbed Lionrock, made landfall at Zhangzhou city in east China's Fujian Province early Thursday morning, local meteorologists said. Its central pressure reached 990 hectopascals upon landing and the maximum wind power reached Force 9 where the center of Lionrock passed.

Affected by Lionrock, heavy rain occurred in the coastal areas along Zhangzhou and the rain was the heaviest in Dongshan and Zhangpu counties.

Local meteorologists have warned residents that Lionrock was one of the tropical cyclones that is likely to have the greatest impact and they must keep a look out for mudflows and landslides that might be triggered by the tropical storm.

The meteorologists forecast that rainfalls would be up to 100 to 200 millimeters in Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Xiamen and Putian cities of Fujian Province from Thursday to Friday. Some areas may see more than 250 millimeters. The rain in Ningde, Fuzhou and Longyan cities is forecasted to reach between 80 millimeters and 100 millimeters.

Recently, for the defense of No. 6 and No. 8 typhoon, the vessels and people doing marine operations have been organized to shelter back. By 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, 162,200 people in the province had been evacuated to safe places, and 50,703 fishing ships have been ordered back to harbors.

As of now, no casualties have been reported.

By Zhao Chenyan, People's Daily Online