China's eastern coastal Fujian Province has evacuated 180,000 people and called 35,000 fishing vessels back to harbor to brace for weakening tropical storm Kalmaegi which has killed at least six people in Taiwan.

As of 10:00 AM Friday, the province had evacuated nearly 30,000 workers in the coastal waters and 150,000 people on 35,000 fishing vessels returning to harbor, the provincial flood control authorities said.

Kalmaegi made landfall near Ilan in northern Taiwan late on Thursday with heavy rain. At least six people have been reported dead on the island.The storm also damaged many key roads and affected rail services in some areas on the island.

Kalmaegi weakened into a severe tropical storm at 2:00 AM on Friday. It left Taiwan at around 7 a.m. and was forecast to strike the coastal areas between the mainland's eastern Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, late on Friday.

Kalmaegi, the seventh storm this year, is also expected to affect Shanghai on Friday and Saturday.

Flood control, offshore fishery and marine authorities in Fujian, Zhejiang and Shanghai have sent out warnings to prepare for the storm. All vessels have been advised to return to port.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2008)