Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GUANGZHOU15429
2006-05-25 06:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Guangzhou
Cable title:  

Typhoon Chanchu Blows into South China Causing

Tags:  ECON PGOV SOCI CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6980
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHGZ #5429/01 1450614
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250614Z MAY 06
FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8754
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 015429 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 4420/ITA/MAC/MCQUEEN
STATE ALSO PASS USTR/CHINA OFFICE/STRATFORD/CELICO
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: Typhoon Chanchu Blows into South China Causing
Death and Damage

REF: A) Guangzhou 14818, B) Guangzhou 10542

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 015429

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 4420/ITA/MAC/MCQUEEN
STATE ALSO PASS USTR/CHINA OFFICE/STRATFORD/CELICO
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: Typhoon Chanchu Blows into South China Causing
Death and Damage

REF: A) Guangzhou 14818, B) Guangzhou 10542


1. (U) Summary: Typhoon Chanchu, following its strike on
the Philippines, headed toward eastern Guangdong Province
late last week with landfall on Thursday, May 18.
Preparing for the typhoon's landfall, over 600,000 persons
were evacuated, with numbers reaching more than one million
by the time the typhoon departed. Reports indicate that 23
persons were killed by floods and landslides triggered by
the typhoon in Guangdong and Fujian Provinces. The National
Disaster Reduction Center, Ministry of Civil Affairs,
estimated total economic loss for Guangzhou RMB 1.47
billion (USD 184 million),for Fujian, RMB 3.68 billion
(USD 459 million). Provincial reports indicate 3.8 million
acres of Fujian farmland have been damaged with another
520,000 acres damaged in Guangdong. End Summary.

Typhoon Leaves 23 Dead, One Million Evacuees
--------------


2. (U) The powerful typhoon struck China on Thursday, May
18, leaving at least 21 people dead: 15 in Fujian province
due to floods and landslides triggered by the typhoon; and,
eight in Guangdong Province. At the same time, media
reports say 28 Vietnamese fishermen were killed and many
more were missing after their boats sank or went missing in
Chinese waters due to the storm, though Chinese naval
vessels provided food and water to survivors found on
Vietnamese fishing boats following the typhoon. The
Chinese government announced that over 100,000 vessels had
been ordered back to port before the typhoon hit the area.
After making landfall, the typhoon was downgraded to a
tropical storm and returned to the sea southeast of
Shanghai late Thursday evening.


3. (U) On Wednesday, May 17, before the typhoon made
landfall, approximately 300,000 people were evacuated from
their homes in Fujian Province with an additional 320,000
people evacuated along the coast of Guangdong Province.
Following Typhoon Chanchu's landfall, the number of
evacuees in these two provinces reached more than one
million people. Evacuees are currently being housed in
tents, schools, government warehouses or staying with

relatives.

Damages Estimated at USD 600 Million
--------------


4. (U) At the Central Government level, Vice Premier Hui
Liangyu expressed great concern over the typhoon. The
National Disaster Reduction Center, Ministry of Civil
Affairs, estimated total economic losses for Guangdong at
approximately RMB 1.5 billion (USD 184 million),and for
Fujian at 3.7 billion (USD 459 million). There have been
no requests for international or central government
assistance so far and relief efforts are being handled
primarily by provincial and local governments, though a
joint delegation made up of representatives from eight
ministries arrived in Fujian to advise recovery operations.
Hope Weiner of the International Federation of the Red
Cross stated that the China Red Cross was sending a team
down to the affected area to investigate. To date, the CRC
has only sent limited supplies, such as blankets, to the
regional Red Cross offices in Fujian and Guangdong.

Provincial Situation and Recovery Efforts
--------------


5. (U) Provincial and Chinese Red Cross sources provided
the following information on damages and government
responses.

Fujian Province

Reports from the Fujian Provincial Government provide the
following information:
Impacted areas: 425 townships in 60 counties (most in
Zhangzhou City in Southern Fujian - Zhangzhou was recently
profiled in ref A).
People affected by the typhoon: 3.155 million
Houses collapsed: 9,600
People evacuated: 709,000
Death: 15 (caused by landslides)
People missing: 4

GUANGZHOU 00015429 002 OF 002


Area of farmland damaged: 1.54 million hectares (3.8
million acres)
Direct economic loss: RMB 3.8 billion (USD 475 million)
(including RMB 601 million (USD 75 million) in damages to
water facilities)

Recovery efforts: The Fujian Red Cross delivered to
Zhangzhou's Zhangpu County, which is severely hit, recovery
supplies with a total value of RMB 165,000 (USD 20,000),
including power generators, quilts, instant noodles, tents,
and medicines. Other supplies from Guangzhou will be
delivered directly to Zhangzhou City.

Guangdong Province

Impacted areas: 289 townships in 35 counties/districts
(most in Shantou City of Eastern Guangdong - Shantou
profiled in ref B).
People affected by the typhoon: 7.78 million
Houses collapsed: 4,879
Deaths: 3 (Five more died in traffic accidents)
People evacuated: 343,278
Area of farmland damaged: 211,000 hectares (521,400 acres)
Direct economic loss: RMB 4.64 billion (USD 580 million)
(including RMB 2.63 billion (USD 328 million) in losses to
agriculture, RMB 864 million (USD 10.8 million) in losses
to industry and transportation industry, and RMB 418
million (USD 52 million) in damages to water facilities.)

Recovery efforts: Guangdong Deputy Party Secretary Ou
Guangyuan headed the prevention and recovery work for the
Province. The Provincial Government website stresses
official efforts to evacuate people before the typhoon made
landfall, and to deliver relief supplies to the areas hit
by the typhoon. At this point, little additional
information is available.

DONG