Over 26,000 Tourists Evacuated from Chinese Tourist Island as Typhoon Prapiroon Approaches

Muscat: Local authorities on a tourist island in the Guangxi region in southern China evacuated more than 26,000 tourists as the fourth typhoon of the year approaches. The Maritime Safety Administration of Beihai City, which manages the island, said that the last group of tourists boarded a ferry to leave Weizhou Island yesterday, Sunday. The ferry service linking the city to the island is halted today and tomorrow (Tuesday), Chinese Xinhua news agency reported. The city increased ferry services two days ago, to transport tourists from the island as a precaution ahead of the approaching Prapiroon, which is currently classified as a severe tropical storm in the southeast of Hainan Island. Chinese meteorological authorities said that Prapiroon was expected to make landfall in Hainan on Sunday, bringing strong winds and heavy rains to the island province and the Beibu Gulf. Hainan's transport and port authorities suspended high-speed rail services circling the island and ferry operations, across the Qiongzho u Strait, and advised sailing ships to take shelter. Source: Oman News Agency