Typhoon Saudel Puts China Coast on High Alert as Flights and Ferries Suspended
China’s coastal regions have been placed on high alert as Typhoon Saudel moves across the East China Sea, disrupting air travel, ferry services, shipping and maritime operations in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. Airports in the two provinces are preparing for potential flight delays and cancellations, while the approaching typhoon has already forced airlines in Taiwan and Hong Kong to cancel or reschedule services.
Saudel entered the East China Sea early Wednesday and prompted the cancellation of 16 flights at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport. The affected airlines included Peach, China Airlines, EVA Air, Starlux and Thai Lion Air. Hong Kong Airlines also fully cancelled its HX658/HX659 services between Hong Kong and Okinawa, while HK Express moved its Okinawa-bound flights to August 27 because of the weather system.
If Saudel makes landfall on the Chinese mainland, it would become the seventh typhoon to do so this year. Previous storms, including Bavi, have brought torrential rainfall and flooding to affected areas.
The National Meteorological Centre forecasts that Saudel will make landfall between Thursday night and Friday morning along the coast stretching from Xiangshan in eastern Zhejiang to Fuqing in southeastern Fujian province.
Zhejiang Raises Emergency Response as Ferry Services Are Suspended
Zhejiang province has raised its emergency response to Level 3, the third-highest of the country’s four emergency response levels, as authorities prepare for the typhoon’s impact. All coastal scenic areas have been closed, while more than 4,100 tourists have been evacuated from island resorts.
More than 90 passenger ferry routes in Zhejiang had been suspended because of gale-force winds as of 10am on Monday, according to the Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration.
The storm has also caused major disruption to regional maritime activity. In Taizhou, all 18 passenger ferry routes have been suspended, while 32 maritime construction projects have been halted and 67 associated vessels relocated to safe waters.
In Ningbo, 22 passenger routes have been suspended and 39 offshore construction projects have been fully halted. Wenzhou has suspended all 13 coastal passenger routes, while 24 offshore engineering projects have been shut down.
Across Zhejiang, work has stopped at 146 offshore construction projects, with 527 associated vessels moved to safe anchorages. More than 3,300 fishing vessels have also been sheltered in ports as authorities strengthen preparations for the typhoon.
Typhoon Narra Makes Landfall in Southern China
Meanwhile, Typhoon Narra made its third landfall at around 11am Wednesday in Wuchuan, Guangdong province, in southern China. The storm arrived with Force 6 winds before rapidly weakening.
Despite Narra’s weakening, its residual circulation continues to produce torrential rain across Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan following days of persistent downpours.
In the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, maritime traffic has also faced significant disruption. The Beihai-Weizhou Island route, the region’s busiest passenger ferry connection, has been completely suspended.
Authorities have also shut down 78 coastal water projects across Guangxi, with construction vessels and personnel evacuated from the water.
Qiongzhou Strait Closed to Ro-Ro Traffic
The Qiongzhou Strait has been fully closed to roll-on/roll-off traffic since Tuesday. Ports including Xinhai and Xiuying, as well as the southern railway link in Hainan’s capital Haikou, have closed their gates.
The suspension is expected to remain in place through Wednesday afternoon.
With both Saudel and Narra affecting southern and eastern parts of China, authorities are closely monitoring maritime traffic, port operations, ferry services and coastal infrastructure.
Local authorities have urged residents in affected areas to follow official weather forecasts and prepare for possible mountain torrents, urban flooding and other secondary disasters.
