Eastern China on red alert as super typhoon Lekima approaches
- Weather bureau says Lekima is strongest typhoon since 2014
- Authorities batten down hatches with travel restrictions and preparations for heavy rain
China’s weather bureau issued a red alert on Friday as super typhoon Lekima approached eastern Zhejiang province after forcing flight cancellations in Taiwan and shutting markets and businesses on the island.
The National Meteorological Centre said the typhoon, the strongest since 2014, was expected to hit the mainland early on Saturday and then turn north. Gale warnings for the Yangtze River Delta region, which includes Shanghai, were issued.
Taiwan cancelled flights and ordered markets and schools to close on Friday as the typhoon headed northwest, cutting power to more than 40,000 homes and forcing the island’s high-speed rail to suspend most of its services.
The island’s authorities issued landslide warnings after an earthquake of magnitude 6 struck its northeastern coast on Thursday, hours before the typhoon approached, which was forecast to bring rainfall of up to 900mm (35 inches) to its northern mountains.
More than 300 flights to and from Taiwan were cancelled, and cruise liners were asked to delay their arrival in Shanghai.