Tropical storm Bebinca hits China

Tropical storm Bebinca hit Qionghai in south China’s Hainan province Saturday morning It brought heavy downpours to most of the country’s southern coastal areas. So far, the storm has sunken one fishing boat in Hainan. Another fishing boat with four crew members on board is missing. Despite being named after a dessert in Macau, tropical storm Bebinca has brought gales and torrential rain to Hainan, Guangxi and the South China Sea. Weather forecasters warn that boats in the area should take precautions. Bebinca began forming on Friday and is now moving westward. It is expected to cause huge waves measuring two to three meters in the country’s southern coastal provinces. However, the storm’s rainfalls could also bring relief from the high temperatures that have smothered most of China over the past week. Shipping in Qiongzhou Strait, which links the island province of Hainan and the Chinese mainland, has been suspended. Flights and train services in and out of Hainan have also been disrupted. Weather forecasters have warned residents to be on guard against the extreme weather conditions and their potential damage.