Thousands of people evacuated as Typhoon Hato approaches China

Beijing, Aug 23 : Thousands of people were evacuated on Tuesday from many parts of south China in preparation for the arrival of Typhoon Hato, set to make landfall on Wednesday.

The eye of Hato, the 13th typhoon to hit China this year, was recorded 415 kilometre southeast of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province as of 9 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

It is expected to move northwest at speeds between 20 kph and 25 kph, Guangdong provincial meteorological bureau was cited as saying.

The coast between Zhuhai and Yangjiang should prepare for the typhoon to make landfall on Wednesday morning, it said.

Train services on the Guangzhou-Nanning line will be suspended starting 5 a.m. local time from Wednesday.

High-speed trains linking Shenzhen with the eastern provinces of Fujian and Jiangxi will also be cancelled.