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Cablegate: Typhoon Prapiroon Sweeps Through South China

VZCZCXYZ0021
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGZA #5675 2200304
ZNR UUUUU ZZH ZUI RUEWCSE2315 2201241
R 080304Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 025675

SIPDIS

STATE FOR USAID/OFDA

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID CASC SENV CH
SUBJECT: TYPHOON PRAPIROON SWEEPS THROUGH SOUTH CHINA


REF: A) BEIJING 15315
B) GUANGZHOU 25021

1. (U) TYPHOON PRAPIROON MADE LANDFALL IN SOUTHERN CHINA'S
GUANGDONG PROVINCE ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 3RD, SWEEPING THROUGH
AN AREA ALREADY DAMAGED BY TYPHOONS BILIS AND KAEMI (REFS A
AND B). NO AMCITS HAVE BEEN REPORTED KILLED OR INJURED.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MEDIA REPORT A TOTAL OF 80 PEOPLE
KILLED AND 9 MISSING. DESPITE BEING DOWNGRADED FROM A
TYPHOON TO A TROPICAL STORM ON AUGUST 4TH, THE STORM
CONTINUED TO LASH SOUTHERN CHINA WITH HEAVY WINDS AND
TORRENTIAL RAIN OVER THE WEEKEND. ESTIMATES ARE THAT 844,000
PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED, 30,000 HOUSES COLLAPSED, AND THAT THE
STORM AFFECTED 10 MILLION PEOPLE.

2. (U) IN PREPARATION FOR THE STORM, FERRIES AND RAIL LINES
BETWEEN HAINAN AND GUANGDONG WERE SUSPENDED ON THURSDAY AND
53,000 FISHING VESSELS WERE CALLED INTO HARBOR. AN
ESTIMATED 530,000 PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM THE STORM'S
PROJECTED COURSE AND THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
CLAIMS TO HAVE SENT WARNING MESSAGES TO 11 MILLION CELL
PHONES TO WARN THE PUBLIC OF THE TYPHOON'S ARRIVAL.

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3. (U) GUANGDONG BORE THE BRUNT OF PRAPIROON'S FORCE. THE
TYPHOON MADE LANDFALL AT 7:20 PM ON THURSDAY NIGHT IN YANGXI
AND DIANBAI COUNTIES. THE MEDIA REPORTS 54 CONFIRMED DEATHS
IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE. DAMAGE FROM PRAPIROON IN GUANGDONG IS
ESTIMATED AT RMB 5.4 BILLION (APPROXIMATELY USD 675
MILLION).

4. (U) ALTHOUGH PRAPIROON WAS DOWNGRADED FROM A TYPHOON TO A
TROPICAL STORM ON FRIDAY, IT SWEPT WESTWARD TO THE GUANGXI
AUTONOMOUS REGION. FLASH FLOODS AND LANDSLIDES KILLED 26
PEOPLE THERE. THE GUANGXI CIVIL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TOLD THE
PRESS THAT PRAPIROON AFFECTED 5.1 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE
REGION, DAMAGED 195,900 HECTARES OF FARMLAND AND TOPPLED
9,300 HOUSES.

5. (U) THE FULL EXTENT OF THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IS STILL
UNCLEAR. THE MEDIA IS REPORTING THAT THE GUANGDONG
PROVINCIAL TAXATION DEPARTMENT IS INSTITUTING EIGHT
PREFERENTIAL POLICIES, INCLUDING EXEMPTION FROM INCOME TAXES
FOR THOSE IN AREAS HIT BY THE TYPHOON. IN GUANGXI, CONCERNS
OVER DISEASE OUTBREAKS PROMPTED THE GOVERNMENT TO SEND TEAMS
OF HEALTH WORKERS TO THE AFFECTED AREAS TO INSTRUCT
RESIDENTS ABOUT PROPER SANITATION.

MARTIN

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