As Typhoon Wipha approaches, multiple cities in China's southern coastal province of Guangdong have ramped up emergency efforts to prepare for severe weather conditions brought by the violent tropical storm.
As of 07:00 Sunday, Typhoon Wipha was observed at 21.7 degrees north latitude and 114.9 degrees east longitude, with the maximum wind speed near its center reaching 33 meters per second. It is expected to move westward at around 25 km per hour, with its intensity continuing to strengthen, according to meteorological forecasts.
In Jiangmen City, authorities raised the typhoon emergency response to Level I -- the highest -- at 11 a.m. Sunday. At a ferry terminal in Taishan City under Jiangmen, all three passenger routes and 22 cargo ships were fully suspended from operation by midday Saturday.
The nearby Chuanshan Islands, a popular summer vacation destination, have been engulfed by heavy rain and dense fog. Over 8,000 tourists have been safely evacuated over the past two days.
Zhanjiang in the province is bracing for heavy to extreme rainfall and strong gales from Sunday through Tuesday. The local meteorological bureau upgraded its typhoon alert from Level II to Level I, and its rainstorm warning from Level IV to Level II.
In Shenzhen City, public parks have been closed citywide since the yellow typhoon warning -- the third highest level -- was issued. Construction workers have been evacuated from worksites, and structures such as suspension bridges and scaffolding have been reinforced to prevent possible accidents.
Over 100 emergency shelters have opened in Bao'an District of the city to accommodate residents seeking safety.
"I used to live on-site at a construction site in Dachanwan Port. To avoid the typhoon, they moved us here. It's safe, and we have food and a place to stay in. It's quite convenient," said a construction worker surnamed Ao.
"We've prepared drinking water, instant noodles, and ground mats for them, so they can stay here comfortably and safely during the typhoon," said Zhou Yu, Communist Party secretary at a residential community in Bao'an District.
Typhoon Wipha triggers emergency responses across south China's Guangdong
