Over 150,000 evacuated as typhoon approaches China

Beijing: Over 150,000 people in eastern China's Fujian province have been evacuated ahead of typhoon Soudelor, the 13th this year, which is expected to hit the province later on Saturday.

According to sources, Soudelor, which is moving northwestward at a speed of over 20 km per hour, is expected to make landfall in the Fujian coast on Saturday night, the China Daily reported.

Marine police rescued 55 university students and teachers from a small island in the province on Friday afternoon. They were attending summer camps but strong gales disrupted all ferry services, leaving them trapped.

They were brought back to shore four hours later.

The provincial authorities also urged fishing boats to return to the harbour at the earliest, as gales were predicted for nearby waters later in the day.

Seaside tourist destinations in neighbouring Guangdong province have been temporarily closed.

The typhoon is expected to disrupt train and air services. About 120 trains, mostly running from Shanghai to major cities in Fujian and Guangdong, have being cancelled.

Airports have suspended flights bound for Fujian's capital Fuzhou.