Typhoon Kong-rey kills 3 in Taiwan, could make landfall in Zhejiang

As of Friday morning, three people have been killed on southeast China's Taiwan island due to the impacts of Typhoon Kong-rey. It is likely to make landfall on the coastal area around Wenling City in the eastern province of Zhejiang this afternoon, China Media Group reported.

Kong-rey made landfall on Taiwan's east coast on Thursday afternoon, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. Ahead of the powerful storm, local authorities ordered the temporary closure of offices and schools, while airlines canceled or delayed flights, and all ferry services were suspended.

The center of the typhoon moved into the Taiwan Straits from Taiwan's Changhua County on Thursday evening, weakening to a severe tropical storm. As of 5 a.m. on Friday, its center was located about 290 kilometers southwest of Zhejiang's Wenling, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

Kong-rey is expected to move northeastward at a speed of 35 kilometers per hour with weakening strength and could possibly make landfall around Wenling, with center wind speeds of 20 to 23 meters per second.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected in the provincial-level regions of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian as Kong-rey approaches.

Fujian and Zhejiang have prepared for Typhoon Kong-rey and its potential landfall by activating emergency response plans.

On Fujian's coast, all fish farmers have been evacuated, fishing boats have returned to port, and ferry services were suspended by Thursday morning. Additionally, all 115 maritime construction projects have been halted, and 228 construction vessels have returned to safe waters.

Meanwhile, in Zhejiang, the Taizhou maritime bureau activated a level-3 emergency response on Wednesday to ensure maritime traffic safety. By Thursday morning, all 19 ferry routes in Taizhou had been suspended, and work on 27 ongoing coastal construction projects had stopped.

To comprehensively detect safety hazards ahead of the storm, local communities in Shanghai have reinforced support for trees to prevent them from breaking, set up warning signs for falling objects, dredged public sewers, and conducted safety checks on shop signs.

In Jiangsu, the provincial government held a special meeting to coordinate preparations as the typhoon approached. According to the provincial Emergency Management Department, two helicopters are ready for maritime rescue missions, and more than 11,000 members from 140 rescue teams across different cities and counties are on standby.

(Cover: A delivery driver rides through wind and rain in Shanghai, November 1, 2024. /CFP)