Typhoon Hits Eastern China, Henan Death Toll Rises To 63

Sea, air and rail traffic shut down in Ningbo while Zhejiang closes schools, markets and businesses; Fengxian District evacuates over 330,000 residents

NINGBO

Typhoon In-Fa uprooted trees and drenched communities in knee-deep water in parts of eastern China, but there were no reports of major damage as it made landfall on Sunday.

The typhoon made landfall in Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, state TV reported, citing the national weather agency.

It forecast rainfall of 250-350mm. About 330,000 residents of Fengxian District on Shanghai’s southern edge were evacuated ater wind speeds off shore reached 100kph, the newspaper China Daily reported.

Sea, air and rail traffic had been shut down across a swathe of the coast centered on the major shipping port of Ningbo, where the weakening typhoon rumbled ashore around midday packing winds of up to 38 metres per second, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

That is equal to about 137kph according to Reuters calculations.

Response teams in Ningbo cleared away fallen trees in the city centre, while residents in some neighbourhoods waded through floodwaters and merchants piled up sandbags in front of their businesses to keep out water.

“People should not willingly go outdoors,” the bureau said.