City issues red alert for typhoon

The Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory issued the red alert for Super Typhoon Saola at 2 p.m. today, the highest in the five-tier warning system, as the super typhoon could seriously affect the city.

This is the second time in five years for the city to issue a red alert for typhoon following Typoon Mangkhut in 2018. Saola might be the second typhoon that severely affects the city after Mangkhut. 

According to the observatory, Super Typhoon Saola, as of 12 p.m. today, was about 193 kilometers southeast of Shenzhen over the sea, with a maximum wind force near the center of level 17 (58 meters/second). It is expected that Saola will move in a west-northwest direction at a speed of 10-15 kilometers per hour, with little change in intensity. There is a significant possibility that it will make landfall somewhere between Shenzhen's Dapeng New Area and Hong Kong or pass through the waters 80 kilometers off Hong Kong from tonight to early tomorrow morning. 

Under its influence, the entire city (including Shenshan) will experience rainstorm, with local areas experiencing extraordinary rainstorm, accompanied by a maximum gust of level 10-11 over land, and level 12 along the coast, highlands, and over the sea. It will bring heavy rain this afternoon and tomorrow with precipitation of 250 millimeters to 400 millimeters and the hour precipitation at 70-120 millimeters.  

Property management personnel reinforce the rooftop of a house in Futian District this morning. Liu Xudong

In response to the approaching super typhoon, starting from 4:00 p.m. today, all work, businesses and markets across Shenzhen will be suspended, according to an emergency order issued by Shenzhen's flood, drought, and wind control headquarters this morning.

The city will impose a traffic control at the entrances to expressways starting from 7 p.m. today, source from Shenzhen transport bureau said. Vehicles except those that are used for emergency rescue are not allowed to enter expressways until further notice. 

Public transportation will be suspended from 7 p.m. today and classes have already been suspended since yesterday afternoon. Except for emergency workers and livelihood assurance personnel, other individuals should avoid going outdoors. The city will open all disaster avoidance places for public use against wind and flood.

All inbound and outbound flights at the Shenzhen airport have been halted from 12 p.m. today until further notice. Ferry routes between the airport terminal and Zhuhai, Macao and Hong Kong were suspended from 12 p.m. yesterday.

A corner of the Shenzhen airport today. All inbound and outbound flights at the Shenzhen airport have been halted from 12 p.m. today until further notice. Courtesy of the airport

Major libraries, museums, tourist sites and indoor swimming pools have been temporarily closed. Citizens can follow their official WeChat accounts for updates.

Meanwhile, more than 4,000 trains using the Guangdong sections of railway lines and operating from Thursday to Monday will be suspended, including the Guangzhou-Shenzhen intercity line and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, according to the China Railway Guangzhou Group Co. Ltd. Other typical safety precautions include recalling fishing boats to port and moving people who work on coastal fish and shrimp farms further inland.