China's Guangdong, Fujian upgrade emergency response for Typhoon Podul

GUANGZHOU/FUZHOU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- At 1 p.m. Wednesday, the flood control headquarters in south China's Guangdong Province raised its emergency typhoon response from Level III to Level II in anticipation of Typhoon Podul.

Podul, the 11th typhoon of the year, made landfall on the coast of Taitung County in China's Taiwan region at around 1 p.m. Wednesday, with a maximum wind force of 14-grade near the center when it landed, according to the meteorological observatory of east China's Fujian Province.

Typhoon Podul is expected to move rapidly northwest at about 30 kilometers per hour, gradually weakening in strength. It is forecast to make a second landfall along the coast from Xiamen in Fujian Province to Shantou in Guangdong Province between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, before continuing its northwestward path.

Affected by Typhoon Podul, winds in the eastern sea area of Guangdong, as well as cities and counties in the eastern part of the province, are expected to increase to Grade 8 to 10 from Wednesday to Thursday.

Heavy rain will hit eastern and northern Guangdong, as well as the northern Pearl River Delta, from Wednesday night through Thursday night, with some areas likely to experience extreme downpours.

Authorities in Fujian raised the emergency typhoon response to Level II around noon Wednesday, simultaneously activating a Level IV flood control emergency response.

The flood control headquarters in Fujian and Guangdong have instructed all localities to closely monitor the typhoon situation and implement emergency measures, including evacuations, to ensure the safety of life and property.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe. ■