China's Ministry of Water Resources on Wednesday issued a Level-IV emergency response to flooding, the lowest among its four-tier system, in five provincial-level regions: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan and Hainan.
Affected by Typhoon Bebinca, Typhoon Pulasan and a tropical depression in the South China Sea, it is projected that some medium-sized and minor rivers in the five regions will see water levels exceed their warning thresholds between Wednesday and Friday, the ministry said.
Overcast in Shanghai as Typhoon Pulasan approaches east China, September 18, 2024. /CFP
It stressed the need to strengthen typhoon monitoring, forecasting and early warning, and to prevent disasters triggered by floods in small and medium-sized rivers as well as by mountain torrents in affected areas.
China's National Meteorological Center issued a yellow alert for Typhoon Pulasan on Wednesday evening, the third highest level in its four-tier warning system, warning that strong winds and heavy rainfall will batter eastern parts of the country from Wednesday night to Thursday night.
The center said the typhoon is expected to make landfall on the coast of Zhejiang between Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening.
(Cover: Fishery workers move to safe areas in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, east China, September 18, 2024. /CFP)