BEIJING: China warned on Saturday of big waves, heavy rain and strong winds as Typhoon Koinu heads towards southern provinces after causing havoc in Taiwan.
In certain areas of Guangdong province, ferry services came to a halt, while the city of Guangzhou had to cancel several flights and train services.
The State Oceanic Administration, in response to the approaching storm, predicted waves reaching up to nine meters in the South China Sea during Saturday and Sunday. An orange alert, the second-highest level in the four-coloured warning system, was issued.
Named “Koinu,” meaning “puppy” in Japanese, the typhoon was expected to transform into a tropical storm by Saturday and change its course southwestward, aligning it with the waters parallel to China’s southeastern coast on Sunday. Presently, Koinu is moving westward along China’s southern coast at a speed of 5-10 kilometres per hour, as reported by the National Meteorological Centre (NMC). The typhoon is projected to weaken into a strong tropical storm from late Monday.
The NMC has strongly advised residents to maintain a high level of alertness for potential flooding and to prepare for emergency response measures related to the typhoon. China Daily reported that authorities in Shantou, Guangdong province, have implemented restricted movement measures on cross-bridges to enhance safety.
