East China coastal provinces brace for Typhoon Bavi

China's eastern coastal provinces stepped up emergency measures as Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year, moves closer to the country.

On Wednesday evening, Bavi entered China's 48-hour typhoon warning zone. The National Meteorological Center raised its typhoon alert to orange on Thursday morning, the second-highest level in China's warning system.

According to meteorological forecasts, the center of Super Typhoon Bavi would be located over waters about 1,100 kilometers southeast of Keelung, Taiwan region, at 11:00 on Thursday and the typhoon is forecast to move northwestward at a speed of around 15 to 20 kilometers per hour.

Fujian, one of the provinces expected to be affected, activated a typhoon emergency response. Xiapu County in Ningde City has stepped up reinforcement work on marine aquaculture facilities over the past two days. Local authorities have also organized fishing boats to return to port for shelter, ensuring the orderly evacuation of offshore workers.

"We have guided about 300 large fishing boats to orderly transfer to other ports for sheltering from the storm. Next, we will strengthen 24-hour duty shifts and dynamically manage fishing vessel safety based on the evolving typhoon situation," said Zhuo Lizhao, deputy head of Sansha Town.

In Jiangsu Province, multiple departments in Suzhou have also taken proactive measures to prepare for the potential heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Bavi.

The Taihu Basin Authority has stepped up drainage operations of Wangting water conservancy hub, a vital facility that helps regulate water flow between the Wangyu River and Taihu Lake to lower water levels across rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

"The platform can update the flow data every five minutes, as well as the data of upstream and downstream water levels. By continuously monitoring real-time flow and water level data, we achieve precise engineering scheduling," explained Jin Zhaoqing, an official at the Taihu Basin Authority.

Additionally, Shanghai faces increasing pressure in flood and typhoon prevention. Fire and rescue departments in Jinshan and Xuhui districts have conducted thorough inspections of water rescue equipment, like rubber boats and life jackets, conducted careful maintenance of vehicles and communication devices, and checked various emergency preparedness supplies.

East China coastal provinces brace for Typhoon Bavi

A fire broke out at a footwear factory in east China's Fujian Province on Thursday, causing major casualties and leaving several people trapped on a building rooftop.

The blaze erupted at the factory in Jiangtou Village of the Chendai Township in Jinjiang City at around 12:00 local time.

Local fire and rescue teams have deployed some 183 personnel and 35 vehicles to the scene, while firefighting efforts are still ongoing.

China's Ministry of Emergency Management, together with the National Fire and Rescue Administration, has dispatched a joint work team to Jinjiang to guide rescue and response efforts. Since the incident was reported, the ministry has maintained round-the-clock coordination and dispatch, calling for all-out efforts to extinguish the fire, search for and rescue those trapped, and treat the injured.

It also urged relevant authorities to identify the cause of the fire and take effective measures to prevent similar accidents.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made important instructions following the fire, urging all-out efforts to carry out search and rescue operations, identify the cause of the accident and hold those responsible strictly accountable.

Footwear factory fire breaks out in east China's Fujian