Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
SANYA, June 13 (Xinhua) — Twelve crew members were rescued from a ship in waters off southern China’s Hainan island province early Friday as Typhoon Wutip (Butterfly) approached, local authorities said.
At around 6 p.m. on Thursday, the Nanhai Rescue Bureau under China’s Ministry of Transport received reports that 12 people on a cargo ship about 14 nautical miles (about 26 km) off a cape in southwestern Hainan Province needed to be evacuated due to the typhoon.
The rescue vessel set out at 6.30pm on Thursday and arrived at the scene at 11.50pm, where gale force winds had caused waves up to three metres high. Rescuers managed to get the crew to safety after 43 minutes and are expected to return to the anchorage at midday on Friday.
The rescued sailors will remain on the rescue vessel, where they will be provided with essential supplies and medical care. They will be taken ashore when the weather permits.
Typhoon Wutip strengthened into a severe tropical storm at 8:00 p.m. Thursday. As of 10:00 a.m. Friday, its epicenter was located near Ledong Li Autonomous County on Hainan Island, with maximum winds near the epicenter of the cyclone reaching about 101 km/h. The typhoon is moving northwest at a speed of 5-10 km/h.
All kindergartens, schools, construction sites and tourist attractions in Sanya have been closed. Ships are banned from sailing and Fenghuang International Airport has suspended all flights from 10 p.m. on Thursday. High-speed rail service on Hainan has been suspended and is expected to resume on Saturday.
The Nanhai Rescue Bureau is closely monitoring Typhoon Wutip and has deployed seven specialized rescue ships and four helicopters to respond to emergencies. -0-