Chinese coastal provinces brace for super typhoon Soudelor

Fujian Province in east China on Saturday issued its highest typhoon alert as super typhoon Soudelor approaches southeast China's coastal provinces with downpours and gales.

The typhoon, expected to land between the cities of Jinjiang and Fuqing Saturday evening, will pose a serious threat to Fujian, the provincial meteorological station said.

Flights to the provincial capital Fuzhou, which is being battered by heavy rain and strong wind, have been canceled. About 100 trains running through the city of Xiamen have suspended services. The airport in the city of Quanzhou has also canceled its flights.

Fallen trees and branches were scattered across city streets and provincial highways in Fujian.

Traffic in Fuzhou was jammed as many roads were flooded. Water supply to houses had also been disrupted for several hours.

In the coastal city of Putian, several houses had fallen down. A section of power grid was also blown out.

Provincial officials have been sent to supervise efforts to battle the typhoon in Fujian cities.

About 158,000 people in the province have been evacuated.

Neighboring Jiangxi Province also issued a typhoon alert and suspended some trains as torrential rain is expected to drench the province.