STORY: China's breadbasket province braces for another typhoon lashing
DATELINE: Aug. 11, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:14
LOCATION: HARBIN
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of flood affected areas in Heilongjiang and Jilin Province
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI CHEN'GANG, Engineer, China Railway No.4 Engineering Group Co., Ltd.
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI ZHIHENG, Head of the emergency rescue center, Shulan City, Jilin Province
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): DU YANHUI, Director of Wuchang City's agricultural technology promotion center
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LI YANJUN, Plant protection researcher, Wuchang City's agricultural technology promotion center

STORYLINE: 
China has been ramping up prevention measures against Typhoon Khanun, which is expected to make landfall in northeastern provinces on Saturday.

While grappling with extreme rainfall affected by Typhoon Doksuri, China's breadbasket province Heilongjiang on Thursday activated the second-level emergency response to flood control to cope with the impact of approaching Typhoon Khanun.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI CHEN'GANG, Engineer, China Railway No.4 Engineering Group Co., Ltd.
"We have taken protective measures on the existing river embankments and the constructed areas."

In Shulan County of northeastern Jilin Province, people that may be affected by Typhoon Khanun have been evacuated to safer places or temporary shelters.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI ZHIHENG, Head of the emergency rescue center, Shulan City, Jilin Province
"People in areas with rivers, mountain torrents, and geological hazards, as well as reservoirs and ponds, should be evacuated as early as possible. We also conducted targeted support for vulnerable groups to ensure their evacuation."

Shulan had experienced Typhoon Doksuri-induced rainstorms since Tuesday night last week, leaving 14 people dead.

Now is a crucial period for the autumn grain crop yield. Heilongjiang has remained China's top grain producer for 13 consecutive years.

To reduce the risk of crop lodging, local authorities have made all-out efforts in typhoon prevention and response, organizing emergency service teams, mobilizing drainage machinery, and expediting the removal of field water.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): DU YANHUI, Director of Wuchang City's agricultural technology promotion center
"We are currently at a crucial stage of rice production in the city, which also coincides with the peak period of pests and diseases. We must rapidly drain stagnant water, and remove sediment deposits. Once the water levels recede, we will organize drainage according to local conditions to save the rice paddy."

Agricultural sciences experts have also been sent to help farmers minimize losses, especially in Wuchang City, the main production area of high-quality rice in Heilongjiang.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LI YANJUN, Plant protection researcher, Wuchang City's agricultural technology promotion center
"Our center was divided into six expert teams, providing technical guidance for all 24 townships in our city.
Despite the flooding, a large area of rice seedlings in Wuchang is growing normally. The rice output would not fall drastically compared with previous years."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Harbin, China.
(XHTV)