Southeast China's Fujian Province had relocated 156,800 residents as of 7 a.m. Thursday as Typhoon Gaemi, the third typhoon of this year, approaches, said local authorities.
Meanwhile, 73 passenger ferry routes along the province's coast were suspended and 97 flights canceled.
Over 29,000 people working on fishing rafts along its coast have been evacuated to the shore, and 733 fishing boats have taken shelter at ports and some 3,200 people aboard have been evacuated ashore, according to the provincial flood control office.
Rain hits Quanzhou City as Typhoon Gaemi approaches Fujian Province, July 24, 2024. /CFP
Currently, Gaemi is forecast to move northwest at an estimated speed of up to 15 km per hour.
It is expected to make landfall along the coast from Lianjiang to Xiuyu in Fujian between Thursday afternoon and evening, and then it is projected to continue to move further inland to the north.
Influenced by the typhoon, from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday, 104 townships in 20 counties across Fujian saw an accumulative precipitation exceeding 50 millimeters, among which 25 townships exceeded 100 millimeters. The highest was registered in Guanyang Township, Fuding City, reaching 178.7 millimeters, said local meteorological authorities.
China's Ministry of Transport on Thursday upgraded the emergency response to Typhoon Gaemi to Level II, the second highest level.
China has a four-tier emergency response system for typhoons, with Level I being the highest.
(Cover: Rain hits Quanzhou City as Typhoon Gaemi approaches Fujian Province, southeast China, July 24, 2024. /CFP)