Typhoon Sinlaku - Okinawa Update 5 - 0700hrs -15Sep2008 (Updated)

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-09/15/content_7027682.htm

Thousands evacuated as typhoon Sinlaku nears(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-15 08:

FUZHOU - Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in eastern China have evacuated over 260,000 people from low-lying coastal regions, as typhoon Sinlaku appeared to be moving toward them after it pounded Taiwan early Sunday morning.

The Fujian provincial meteorological observatory said the eye of the storm was in Yilan county, Taiwan, at 5am, bringing winds of 45 m per second.

An armed police officer patrols the area around a dyke in Wenling, Zhejiang province on September 14, 2008. More than 260,000 people from low-lying coastal areas in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces have been evacuated as Typhoon Sinlaku approaches. [Jia Ce] Its power started to affect Fujian, as the observatory issued a yellow alert, or the second-degree disaster weather warning, 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 Sinlaku could cause serious damage on its possible course through the cities of Ningbo, Taizhou and Wenzhou, as well as the Zhoushan Islands.

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

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

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

Typhoon Sinlaku slammed into Taiwan with heavy rain and strong winds Sunday, flooding low-lying regions and causing landslides that disrupted traffic and halted trains and domestic flights, officials said.

Typhoon Sinlaku kills 4 in Taiwan, heads to Japan

By ANNIE HUANG – 1 hour ago

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Torrential rains and rivers swollen by Typhoon Sinlaku killed at least four people and left seven others missing and presumed dead in central Taiwan, authorities said Monday as the storm barreled toward Japan.

Soldiers and rescuers in Taichung County searched for five people who remained missing after a section of a 2,000-foot bridge over the Tachia River collapsed Sunday night.

Two cars plunged into the furious river after the water washed part of the bridge away, the Disaster Relief Center said. Authorities were trying to confirm if a third car also fell into the river as news media reported, it said.

Police recovered one body, identified as a 32-year-old engineer, it said.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gEqLIac5t8zBFrPcURHCQOiBHzfgD9370P4O2

Thank you all for your contributions to this ongoing story.  Some great photos and footage were added to the Update 4 - 14 September 2008 part of this coverage of Typhoon Sinlaku by people who were caught in the downpours that caused some of the damage to Taipei and other parts of  Taiwan.  

You may want to link all the updates, it would help your post greatly.