Super Typhoon Mangkhut brings back bad memories for people of southern China’s Guangdong
People in Zhuhai stock up on food as fishing boats return to harbour
Residents of Zhuhai in southern China’s Guangdong province were stockpiling food and water on Saturday in preparation for the arrival of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, as the government shut down the harbour and sealed off beaches.
The coastal city was lashed by Super Typhoon Hato last year and memories of the damage it caused are still fresh in people’s minds.
All boats and ships had been banned from entering or leaving Jiuzhou Harbour, a worker there said.
Local news portal Southcn.com reported earlier that 3,705 fishing boats had been called back to harbour and 1,820 people working on fishing rafts had also returned to shore.
The city government said it had opened 215 storm shelters and evacuated 3,486 people. It has also closed 20 beaches and scenic spots, and suspended operations at 30 construction sites.
Posters were put up warning people to stay away from coastal areas, and also in car parks asking owners to move their vehicles away from the potential danger areas.
A taxi driver, who asked not to be named, said that when Hato struck last year, the whole of “Lovers’ Promenade”, a coastal road lined with palm trees, five-star hotels and high-end homes, was completely flooded.