Two coastal provinces in east China, Fujian and Zhejiang, have geared up for the approaching Typhoon Francisco by calling ships and fishermen back from the sea, closing sea routes, and evacuating people.
The two provinces on Thursday activated their Level-IV emergency response to the typhoon.
At 17:00 Thursday, Zhejiang upgraded its existing offshore alert to a Level-IV typhoon alert. Just five hours earlier, Fujian had issued the same warning, underscoring the shared threat.
In Fujian's Xiapu County, 816 ships have all returned to ports, with all crew members being ashore.
Local authorities have also dispatched workers to evacuate fish farmers in coastal areas like Dongchong village in Beibi Township.
"We have arranged six task forces to take actions. Three of them have gone to fish farms to evacuate elderly and weak people, women and children, and assist fishermen in consolidating the farms. And the other three are on duty at ports to prevent ships from leaving the ports," said Wang Yiguang, a government employee in Beibi.
Ningbo and Zhoushan, two of major coastal cities in Zhejiang, have suspended many sea projects and passenger services as the wind speed has exceeded 20 meters per second in the waters to the east of the province.
As of 14:00 Friday, Ningbo had closed 14 of its 25 sea passenger routes and suspended 56 coastal projects, while Zhoushan closed 69 of its 70 sea passenger routes.
Zhejiang, Fujian brace for Typhoon Francisco
