With one powerful autumn typhoon having affected a Chinese province and another one bearing down on the mainland, concerns have mounted over the potential disasters from heavy rainfall that such storms can bring to vulnerable areas on the southern and southeastern coasts.
Authorities have been ramping up preparations to address the heightened risk of flooding and other weather-related hazards in such areas.
▲ A rescuer hands over an infant who had just been transported via helicopter from an inundated village in Qionghai, Hainan province, to a government worker on Wednesday. Yuan Chen/For China Daily
The remnants of Typhoon Trami, coupled with a cold front, have triggered extensive flooding in Qionghai, Hainan province. All 13 towns in the city have been inundated to varying degrees, with the Wanquan River basin submerging 183 villages.
Responding to the crisis, Qionghai has mobilized a fleet of 43 motorboats, 30 inflatable boats and over 200 vehicles, and has requested helicopter assistance for supply transport and rescue operations. By Wednesday evening, authorities had evacuated 17,198 residents.
Rainfall had decreased by Wednesday night, and water levels in the Wanquan River are gradually receding. The Hainan disaster reduction commission terminated its flood and wind emergency response on Thursday at 5 pm.
However, forecasts predict another deluge from Sunday to Tuesday as southeasterly airflow collides with a cold front.
Elsewhere, in anticipation of Typhoon Kong-rey's approach, China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has initiated a Level-IV emergency response in Zhejiang province.
China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe.
Kong-rey, the 21st typhoon of the year, made landfall in Taiwan's Taitung at around 1:40 pm on Thursday, leading to the closure of schools and offices in 22 counties and cities across the island. By Thursday morning, 527 flights were suspended, eight were delayed and 139 ferries operating on 11 routes were canceled.
▲ Bo'ao town in Hainan province is flooded by a combination of the remnants of Typhoon Trami and a cold front that swept the area recently. Yuan Chen/For China Daily
Taiwan authorities said Kong-rey was the strongest typhoon to make landfall on the island in nearly a decade. The storm is forecast to track north-northeast, with winds expected to peak at 184 kilometers per hour.
Heavy rainfall is anticipated in Shanghai and the provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, with Zhejiang preparing for a significant impact.
As the typhoon nears eastern China, railway authorities in the Yangtze River Delta Region have suspended multiple train services, particularly affecting high-speed rail lines such as the Hangzhou-Shenzhen, Shanghai-Kunming, Hangzhou-Changsha, and Hefei-Fuzhou routes.
Zhejiang escalated its emergency response to Level II for typhoon preparedness, with maritime safety measures heightened to Level III.
As of 8 am on Thursday, 45 of Zhejiang's 152 water passenger ferry routes have been suspended. Additionally, 62 out of its 136 water-related construction projects under development have been halted, with 593 workers safely evacuated from the vessels.
Jia Yan, deputy chief forecaster at the Zhejiang Meteorological Observatory, issued a warning about the impending impact of Kong-rey on the province on Thursday morning. She highlighted the period from Thursday night to Friday as critical, anticipating widespread heavy rainfall that significantly heightens the risk of flood disasters.
"Precautions need to be taken to prevent urban and rural water-logging, as well as secondary disasters such as localized flash floods, mudslides and landslides. Additionally, there will be prolonged periods of strong winds at sea, necessitating enhanced safety measures for maritime traffic and operations," she said.
Fujian province also raised its emergency response level in response to Kong-rey's impact. Railway and maritime services have suspended several train services and halted 71 coastal passenger ferry routes affecting 190 vessels. Meanwhile, 115 coastal construction projects have been stopped until further notice.
Specialized rescue forces, including rescue ships, helicopters and patrol boats, have been deployed on standby to respond to potential emergencies, as confirmed by Fujian maritime authorities.
Reporter: Chen Bowen
