More than 1.5 million people seek shelter as typhoon hits Shanghai

The provincial government issued a red alert in 23 districts

Migrant workers and their families rest in an exhibition hall after being evacuated from their workplaces in Hangzhou, in eastern China's Zhejiang province, on Sunday, July 25, 2021.

Typhoon In-Fa, the sixth typhoon this year, made a second landfall in the coastal area between China's Zhejiang and Shanghai on Monday morning, weather authorities said.

The typhoon first landed late on Sunday in Zhejiang, from where more than 1.5 million people have been evacuated, according to the government.

In-Fa had already dumped strong rains on Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, as well as Shanghai.

In parts of Ningbo, a port city in Zhejiang, fire lorries could not reach people trapped in their own homes, the state broadcaster CCTV reported. Rescuers brought life jackets and evacuated residents using life rafts.

This photo taken on July 25, 2021 shows waves, caused by Typhoon In-Fa further down the Chinese coast, surging over a barrier along the seacoast in Qingdao in China's eastern Shandong province. AFP

The provincial government issued a red alert — the most severe in its four-tier colour-coded weather warning system — for possible mountain torrents in 23 districts and counties.

An orange alert has been issued in neighbouring Jiangsu Province, where nearly 10,000 people were evacuated to safety.

Shanghai was at a virtual standstill as the typhoon that swept across eastern China at the weekend threatened more damage, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people and the closure of schools, markets and businesses.

The financial centre was hit hard by the stormy weather at the weekend, with images of street flooding, flying debris and uprooted trees making the social media rounds. The local government curbed outdoor activities and shut tourist areas, including the historic Bund riverfront. Flights in and out of the city’s two major airports were cancelled, while high-speed trains and some metro lines were suspended.

Shanghai had relocated over 360,000 people as of 10pm on Sunday, mostly from the Pudong district, the China News Service said. No deaths or injuries have been reported so far.

Last week’s historic flooding in central Henan province led to the death of at least 63 people.

Yangshan Port evacuated hundreds of vessels as wind speeds off the coast reached up to 102 kilometres per hour, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the port’s bureau of maritime affairs. All large container ships were evacuated at the weekend.

Some flights may resume later on Monday, depending on weather, according to Shanghai Airport Group Co, which operates the Pudong and Hongqiao airports. Some rail lines will remain shut for the whole day, the city government said in a social media post, citing the local railway bureau.

People wade through a flooded road in Dongqiao town of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, as Typhoon In-fa lashes the coastal regions in China July 25, 2021. REUTERS