China’s Zhejiang on high alert as Typhoon Muifa approaches

Urban landscapers add extra supports to trees on the side of the road near West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Tuesday, as Typhoon Muifa approaches. China Daily/Asia News Network

BEIJING — Zhejiang province has upgraded its typhoon emergency response to Level II, the second-highest level, from 10 am on Tuesday, as Muifa, the 12th typhoon this year, moves closer to the northern coast of the province, according to the local maritime safety administration.

According to the National Meteorological Center, with gales of 150 kilometers per hour, Muifa will move from the north to the northwest at a speed of 10 to 15 km/h and will gradually approach the coast from Wenling to Zhoushan in Zhejiang.

It is forecast to make landfall in the above-mentioned coastal areas from Wednesday afternoon to Wednesday night and will continue to move northward.

Meanwhile, the center has urged local authorities in affected areas to make emergency preparations for the typhoon and asked residents to avoid travel during periods of strong wind and rain.

In Zhejiang, all offshore fishing boats were ordered to return to port to take shelter from the heavy rains and strong gales before noon on Tuesday, and all recreational fishing boats were closed for hire before 6 pm on Tuesday, with all marine aquaculture personnel evacuated. As of 11 am on Tuesday, all 11,680 marine fishing vessels at sea from across the province had arrived at ports to shelter.

The Zhejiang maritime sector stipulated that all ships must seal off cabins, strengthen movable parts, and make sure their communication equipment is operational. Ships should stop loading, unloading and transfer operations, and leave unsafe berths. Emergency rescue vessels in port areas have been put on standby.

Zhoushan suspended all 70 passenger ferry routes on Tuesday. More than 6,300 passengers have been evacuated from Shengsi and some eastern islands; more than 4,000 passengers have been evacuated from the Mount Putuo Scenic Area; and nearly 2,700 passengers have been evacuated from Dongji Island.

According to the Ningbo Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, a total of 36 scenic spots in the city had been closed by Tuesday morning.

Torrential rains and strong winds are expected to hit the northeastern part of Zhejiang over the next three days, especially from 8 am on Tuesday to 8 am on Wednesday, the National Meteorological Center said.

With the typhoon blasting coastal areas and threatening the safety of residents, the education bureaus in coastal cities in Zhejiang, including Zhoushan, Ningbo and Taizhou, released a notice that all primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and off-campus training institutions should suspend classes for one day on Wednesday.

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