Southern China fortifies defences as Super Typhoon Mangkhut closes in
Authorities stock up on food and open reservoir floodgates before the storm’s expected landfall on Sunday
Southern China is bracing for the arrival of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, with provinces in its projected path scrambling to prevent floods and food shortages before the storm’s expected landfall on Sunday.
The Ministry of Emergency Management said on Friday night that it had mobilised more than 20,000 firefighters, nearly 600 rescue boats and 113 drones in Guangdong and Hainan provinces alone, while Guangxi and Yunnan had nearly 600 rescue workers on standby.
Earlier in the day, the China Meteorological Administration raised its storm alert twice, first to yellow and then orange, the second-highest level on its four-tier warning system, as Mangkhut moved into the South China Sea and picked up speed.
The administration said the storm could be the strongest to hit the country this year, and warned that southern China could be put to “a severe test” just days after Typhoon Barijat hit the region.
“There is a clear disaster stacking effect, due to the intensity of Mangkhut and the overlap in the affected area with Typhoon Barijat,” the CMA said.
Hainan governor Shen Xiaoming told the island province’s officials to “prepare for the worst”.