Over 150,000 Chinese evacuated as Typhoon Megi approaches
October 22nd, 2010 - 3:32 am ICT by BNO NewsBEIJING, CHINA (BNO NEWS) — The Fujian Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Thursday informed that more than 150,000 people have been evacuated as Typhoon Megi approaches southeast China.
According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, Fuji’s disaster relief authorities also recalled around 53,100 fishing boats to port and the shipping route linking Fujian’s Quanzhou and Jinmen in Taiwan was closed.
Zhang Changping, chief commander of the Fujian Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, announced that the Typhoon Megi is expected to make landfall in Fuji’s coastal areas in southern China either Friday night or Saturday morning.
Authorities issued a red warning which is the highest of four warnings as the typhoon could cause huge waves that could devastate coastal areas in Fujian, Guangdong and the Taiwan Strait. The red warning gives authorities six hours to evacuate residents at risk and implement storm precautions.
In addition, authorities ordered local fishermen to stay ashore and workers and managers of dams in populated areas to be ready to discharge water in case of torrential rain. Schools, shops and airports will close as part of the red warning too.
The State Oceanic Administration issued a yellow storm surge warning that gives local authorities twelve hours to prepare for a storm, as waters in Dongshan, Chongwu and other tidal stations in Fujian Provicne could exceed the warning levels. As a result, seawalls will be strengthened and fishing facilities protected.
“The storm surge could be so devastating that buildings, docks, villages and cities could be destroyed by it,” said Bai Yiping, director of South China Sea Forecasting Center of the State Oceanic Administration.
Megi is the 13th typhoon of the year and is believed to be the strongest to hit China this year. During the early hours of Monday, the typhoon made landfall in Philippines with winds of up to 225 kilometers (140 miles) per hour. At least nineteen people were killed, including one person who was swept into a river.
- Typhoon 'Megi' hits China, 270,000 evacuated - Oct 23, 2010
- 150,000 evacuated in China due to typhoon threat - Oct 21, 2010
- China issues disaster warning ahead of super typhoon Megi - Oct 19, 2010
- China raises typhoon alert - Sep 19, 2010
- Typhoon Muifa: China evacuates 206,000, issues red alert (Lead) - Aug 06, 2011
- 200,000 evacuated in China in fear of typhoon - Aug 06, 2011
- Thousands evacuated in China as Muifa threat looms large (Second Lead) - Aug 06, 2011
- Taiwan issues warning as Typhoon Fanapi approaches - Sep 18, 2010
- "Typhoon Morakot" devastates Eastern China, Taiwan coastline, one million relocated - Aug 10, 2009
- Super Typhoon Megi Gradually Approaching China - Oct 19, 2010
- 300,000 evacuated as typhoon lands in south China - Sep 29, 2011
- China braces for Typhoon Muifa - Aug 07, 2011
- Typhoon Morakot weakens, leaves trail of destruction in China - Aug 10, 2009
- At least 11 killed as Super Typhoon Megi hits the Philippines - Oct 19, 2010
- Typhoon Megi gains strength, approaches south China - Oct 21, 2010
Tags: beijing china, changping, chief commander, disaster relief, drought relief, fishing boats, flood control, forecasting center, huge waves, jinmen, relief authorities, shipping route, south china sea, southeast china, southern china, state oceanic administration, taiwan strait, tidal stations, typhoon megi, xinhua news agency