China Activates Emergency Response as Typhoon Tapah Hits Guangdong
Beijing, Sep 8: China’s Ministry of Transport jumped into action on Monday, launching a Level-IV emergency response for Typhoon Tapah and a Level-III one for the heavy rains it’s bringing. This move aims to tackle the storm’s fury head-on, especially after Tapah—the 16th typhoon of the year—slammed into the coast of Taishan City in Guangdong Province early Monday morning.
Packed with gale-force winds and torrential downpours, Typhoon Tapah battered southern China’s Guangdong and Guangxi regions. Heavy rains also hit parts of Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Hunan, turning roads slippery and skies dark. The ministry’s quick response highlights the need to protect ships, people, and gear from the typhoon’s impact.
Local authorities in these areas are stepping up big time. They’re making sure vessels stay safely anchored and everyone—from workers to residents—stays out of harm’s way. The ministry even put out a travel safety alert for folks on mountain roads: Keep an eye out for landslides or falling rocks during heavy rain, and get to safety fast if danger pops up. Remember, China’s emergency system has four levels, with Level I as the most intense.
In Taishan, schools and kindergartens shut down for around 120,000 students across 182 spots. Over 41,000 people in Jiangmen got evacuated to safer zones to dodge the worst of the typhoon Tapah effects. Jiangmen’s maritime bureau got ahead of the game, deploying 43 volunteer sea rescue teams and 30 vessels for any emergencies. Plus, more than 3,300 emergency personnel stand ready in Taishan.
Nearby in Yangjiang City, officials opened up emergency shelters on Monday, giving residents a safe spot to ride out the storm. Weather experts say Typhoon Tapah will keep heading northwest at about 20 km per hour and slowly weaken, but heavy rain and strong winds will stick around in parts of Guangdong for now.
Hong Kong Braces for Typhoon Tapah’s Aftermath
Across the border, Hong Kong felt the heat too. The Hong Kong Observatory kept its No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal up until at least 1 p.m. Monday—the third-highest in their five-tier typhoon warning system. They first raised it Sunday evening as Tapah approached.
Airport Authority Hong Kong predicts about 100 flights will get cancelled today because of the typhoon. Amusement parks and clinics have closed their doors, and the government is on high alert with flood barriers ready and emergency teams waiting in the wings.
As Typhoon Tapah moves inland after landfall in Guangdong, it’s pulling away from Hong Kong. Winds should ease up bit by bit, but the observatory warns of ongoing rainstorms and big waves on Monday. Stay safe, everyone—keep checking those typhoon updates and weather forecasts to navigate this stormy weather!
