Hundreds of thousands evacuated in China as Super Typhoon Chan-hom barrels in
Storm is expected to hit the mainland at noon today, packing wind speeds of over 200km/h - similar to the deadly Rammasun
More than 220,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas in Zhejiang , as the mainland yesterday raised the red typhoon alert – the highest in the four-tier system – for the first time this year for the arrival of Super Typhoon Chan-hom.
The typhoon was expected to hit land at noon today between Fuding in Fujian province and Xiangshan in Zhejiang, the National Meteorological Centre said.
By last night, it was centred 330km away, northeast of Taipei, moving towards the mainland at about 20 km/h. At noon yesterday, the wind speed in the eye wall of the typhoon, the most intense part of the storm, had reached 210km/h – the highest speed reached by Super Typhoon Rammasun that killed more than 60 when it swept past Hainan province at about this time last year.
The storm is expected to bring up to 300mm of rain to the east of Zhejiang in just one day, according to the China News Service.
Waves as high as five-storey buildings crashed ashore at Wenling , Fujian, sending residents and tourists scurrying indoors, local media said.