Tropical storm Kajiki brings downpour to China's Hainan Island

HAIKOU - Tropical depression Kajiki has brought heavy rain to China's scenic island of Hainan, halting train and ferry operations and affecting tourist activities.

The meteorological bureau of Hainan province said the storm, which was lingering south of the Hainan Island, will continue to bring intense rain to the southern province until Friday.

Provincial authorities said the ferry service in the Qiongzhou Strait, which separates Hainan Island from Guangdong province, has been halted, and Kajiki-triggered rainstorm has caused mechanic failure and suspension of some trains on the high-speed railway circling the island.

Kajiki also prompted the city of Sanya, a popular beach resort, to prohibit mountaineering and sea-based recreational activities like kayaking out of safety concerns.

The province's emergency management department said 256 residents had been evacuated from sites prone to geological disasters.