After forcing the cancelation of all passenger flights at Shanghai's two international airports as it hit land, typhoon Muifa made landfall for a second time on China's highly populated east coast on Thursday.
According to Chinese news agency Xinhua, the storm, which was carrying winds of up to 126 km/h, was made ashore at 12.30 am in Shanghai's Fengxian district. As per Xinhua, Muifa previously struck the city of Zhoushan in the Zhejiang province on Wednesday.
As Muifa approached the Yangtze River Delta, a congested collection of major cities with a combined population of more than 230 million, China increased its highest tropical cyclone alert.
With Shanghai serving as the country's financial and commercial headquarters and its neighboring cities serving as significant industrial hubs, the Yangtze Delta is also China's most rich area. By cargo tonnage handled, the ports of Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan rank among the busiest in the world.
In the coastal province of Zhejiang, flights at the airports in Zhoushan and Ningbo were canceled, and oil loading and unloading at the hub for ship bunkering that serves both towns were halted as ships sought refuge in anchorages.
For the first time this year, China's Central Meteorological Administration issued its highest typhoon notice, warning that Muifa would intensify as it approached the shore. As stated by the weather bureau, gale-force gusts and heavy rain are expected to continue along China's eastern seaboard until Thursday morning. "Relevant areas should pay attention to the prevention of flash floods and geological disasters that may be caused by heavy rainfall," it added.
In a message on social media, Shanghai Airport Group promised to promptly notify the public of flight adjustments at both airports, in line with the typhoon's impact.
The storm comes just after Typhoon Hinnamnoor, which last week caused the suspension of Shanghai ferry services and the closing of certain Zhejiang schools, made landfall in Shanghai and its neighboring region.
Authorities in Zhejiang ordered all fishing boats to return to port by noon on Wednesday, canceled schools in three cities, suspended passenger ferry service, and closed tourist attractions as the province prepared for Muifa's landfall.
As per CCTV, temporary emergency shelters have been set up all throughout Shanghai, and an emergency evacuation zone that stretches over 30 kilometers along the city's coastline has also been established.
State media says Muifa is the 12th typhoon to hit China this year. As it moves further north inland on Thursday, its influence is anticipated to progressively lessen, according to CCTV.
