Is China Prepared for Typhoon Wipha? Level-IV Flood Control Emergency Activated

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Fujian Province has activated a Level-IV flood control emergency.
- Typhoon Wipha is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds.
- Local authorities are enhancing emergency response measures.
- Transportation services in Hong Kong are gradually resuming.
- Residents are advised to remain cautious and avoid coastal areas.
Fuzhou, July 21 (NationPress) – The Fujian Province of China has initiated a Level-IV flood control emergency response at 8 a.m. on Monday as Typhoon Wipha approaches, as reported by the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.
The outer circulation of Typhoon Wipha, the sixth typhoon of the season, has resulted in heavy to torrential rainfall across the coastal regions of Fujian since Sunday.
Weather authorities predict that several locations within the province will continue to see significant rainfall over the next three days.
The headquarters has emphasized the need for increased vigilance in light of the impending severe weather. Local authorities and departments have been instructed to promptly activate or modify emergency response strategies while enhancing monitoring, early warning systems, and collaborative risk assessments.
They have been directed to carefully devise and execute comprehensive measures to prevent and respond to rainstorm disasters, as well as mitigate secondary hazards such as mountain floods, small and medium-sized river floods, geological threats, and urban flooding.
Typhoon Wipha made its second landfall near Hailing Island in Yangjiang, located in southern China's Guangdong Province, at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Sunday, arriving as a robust tropical storm with peak wind speeds reaching 25 meters per second near its center, according to the provincial meteorological observatory.
China's emergency response system operates on a four-tier basis, with Level I being the most critical response, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Earlier that day, the Hong Kong Observatory lifted all warning signals for tropical cyclones as Wipha exited the city.
Transportation services in Hong Kong are gradually resuming. The Hong Kong link road of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge reopened to all vehicles at midnight on Monday, as announced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong confirmed that all three runways and apron facilities at Hong Kong International Airport are operational. Many flights were postponed on Sunday due to the typhoon, with a total of 120 flights arriving and 114 departing between 8:00 p.m. Sunday and 6:00 a.m. Monday.
The Hong Kong Observatory has forecast rainstorms and high waves for Monday following the typhoon and has advised residents to remain cautious and avoid coastal areas.