BEIJING, Oct 21 — The world’s strongest storm of the year is bearing down on Taiwan and eastern China, prompting evacuation preparations, ferry suspensions and coastal shutdowns as authorities brace for destructive winds and torrential rain.
Super Typhoon Champi, packing winds of up to 245km/h, was moving towards waters east of Taiwan today, threatening widespread disruption across China’s southeastern coastline even as uncertainty remained over its eventual path.
Authorities in Zhejiang province have begun preparing to evacuate vulnerable residents, including elderly people, pregnant women and those with disabilities, while suspending 36 passenger ferry routes and halting work on 223 marine construction projects, South China Morning Post reported.
Coastal tourist attractions are also being closed, with workers at offshore construction sites and fish farms ordered to evacuate as emergency teams step up preparations.
In neighbouring Fujian province, fishing vessels have been instructed to return to the safety of ports by today, with crews required to be ashore by tomorrow.
Champi, which has become the most powerful tropical cyclone recorded worldwide this year in terms of wind speed, was moving northwest at about 20km/h, according to China’s National Meteorological Centre.
Forecasters had earlier warned that the storm could strike Taiwan’s eastern coast around Saturday before crossing the island and making a second landfall in Fujian, potentially weakening to a severe tropical storm or typhoon.
However, an updated forecast today indicated that Champi could instead turn northeast near Taiwan, possibly brushing the island’s northeastern coast before heading towards waters south-west of Japan.
Despite the uncertainty, coastal areas of Zhejiang and Fujian, as well as Shanghai, China’s financial hub, face the prospect of heavy rain and powerful winds.
Air travel could also be affected, with aviation data platform VariFlight identifying several major airports potentially exposed to disruption, including those serving Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Wenzhou and Xiamen.
No widespread flight cancellations or delays had been announced as of today, although travellers were being advised to monitor developments.
Zhejiang activated its typhoon emergency response this morning, with authorities preparing to suspend schools, businesses, workplaces, outdoor gatherings and public transport if conditions deteriorate.
Emergency workers have also been inspecting drainage systems and other vulnerable infrastructure amid concerns that prolonged rainfall could trigger flooding and landslides.
China’s national weather agency maintained a blue typhoon warning, the lowest in its four-tier alert system, while urging residents to secure outdoor structures, avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from mountainous areas and river valleys vulnerable to flash floods.
Authorities have warned that even if Champi avoids a direct landfall, its enormous circulation could still unleash dangerous conditions along China’s eastern seaboard.
The storm’s changing trajectory has left coastal provinces racing to complete precautionary measures before the worst of the weather arrives.
