CHINA TOPIX

03/29/2024 07:21:33 am

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Typhoon Mujigae Makes Landfall in Guangdong

Typhoon Mujigae

(Photo : REUTERS/Stringer ) A woman rides her bike in strong winds and heavy rainfall in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province. Typhoon Mujigae has landed in southern China after moving from the Philippines this weekend.

UPDATE: At least six people lost their lives and up to 215 sustained injuries in Guangdong as typhoon Mujigae made landfall. In the Philippines, the storm left two people dead. More than 45 fishermen from both countries remain missing several hours after Mujigae made impact.

Typhoon Mujigae has struck the coastal city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong, bringing heavy rainfall and strong wind. Chinese state media reported that the storm landed in Leizhou Peninsula at around 2 p.m. on Sunday.

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Mujigae reportedly hit Guangdong with a wind speed of about 150 km/h.

China Meteorological Administration (CMA) issued a red warning - its highest emergency alert - for Mujigae on Sunday. Meteorologists have forecasted that the storm will continue moving and strike Beibu Gulf on Sunday evening. Mujigae is expected to continue losing strength as it moves further inland.

Mujigae was expected to land in Wenchang City, Hainan, but it spun by the island to Guangdong. Hainan is, nonetheless, set to experience gales and torrential rainfall until Monday. People in Guangdong and Guangxi are also bracing for strong wind and several inches of rainfall.

Thousands of tourists have reportedly travelled to southern China to enjoy the National Day Golden Week holiday. Many of them could be stuck indoors for several hours as the gale and downpour, which accompanies the storm, batters the region.

Transportation has been limited in Hainan and Guangdong in anticipation of the storm. Xinhua reported that nearly 70 flights were suspended in Hainan. High-speed rail transportation has also been temporarily shut down on the island. Authorities ordered thousands of fishing vessels to return to the dock in Guangdong and Hainan, Many people were also evacuated from the region before the storm reached land.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, where Mujigae started on Thursday, the whereabouts of about 30 fishermen remains in question after the storm. The spokesman for the regional Office of Civil Defense Mike Sabado revealed that up to 150 fishermen were initially missing. However, many of them have reportedly been rescued or have found their way home.

Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting has issued a yellow alert - medium severity - for typhoon Mujigae. Although the storm is forecasted to fizzle out after reaching Beibu Gulf, Mujigae will cause surging sea waves, as well as gale and heavy rainfall in the coastal areas of northern Vietnam.

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