The provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang in east China have geared up for the impacts of typhoon Kong-rey and its possible landfall by activating emergency response plans and suspending maritime traffic and project construction.
Typhoon Kong-rey, the 21st typhoon this year, made landfall on Taiwan's Taitung coast around 14:00 Thursday, before moving across the island and gradually shifting northeast toward the coasts of Fujian and Zhejiang where its intensity is expected to decrease.
It may make landfall or skirt the coast of these provinces.
In anticipation of severe weather, the Fujian Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters elevated its typhoon emergency response to level-2 and activated a level-4 emergency response for heavy rainfall.
From Thursday to Friday, the coastal areas in Fujian are expected to experience strong winds, while northern and central coastal regions could embrace heavy to torrential rain.
As of 13:00 Wednesday, Fujian's coastal areas had reported winds reaching up to Force 10, with visible impacts such as swaying trees and fishing boats rocking in the harbors.
Emergency measures have been implemented starting Wednesday, including the return of fishing vessels to port and the evacuation of crew members.
By 10:00 Thursday, 71 ferry routes and 190 passenger ferries along Fujian's coast had been suspended.
All 115 maritime construction projects in the area have also been halted, with 228 construction vessels returning to safe waters.
Meanwhile, in Zhejiang, the Taizhou maritime bureau activated a level-3 emergency response on Wednesday to ensure maritime traffic safety.
By Thursday morning, all 19 ferry routes in Taizhou had been suspended, along with the cessation of work on 27 ongoing coastal construction projects.
Over 530 vessels have sought shelter in ports, with emergency response teams coordinating the deployment of 22 rescue ships based on the typhoon's trajectory.
Fujian, Zhejiang grapple with impacts of typhoon Kong-rey
More than 1,000 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli military operation in northern Gaza over the past three weeks, specifically in Jabalia.
The operation began on Oct 5, during which Palestinian neighborhoods were bombed, hospitals were surrounded by Israeli tanks, and hundreds were arrested.
A deadly Israeli airstrike on Tuesday on a multi-story residential building in Beit Lahia City killed more than 90 displaced Palestinians, including entire families with children who had sought shelter from Israeli tank fire and missiles.
Thousands of Palestinians from northern Gaza were forced to evacuate their homes and flee on foot towards Gaza City under continuous bombardment. Dozens of tents were set up to shelter them in a football stadium which already faced dire humanitarian conditions.
"We left the camp in the north, fleeing under the shelling of houses and the firing of shells on Salah al-Din Road. We suffered for more than 6 hours at the Israeli checkpoint, which lasted until the evening," said Abu Muhammad, a displaced man from northern Gaza.
Israeli forces withdrew from Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last functioning medical facility in northern Gaza, leaving behind massive destruction, arresting hundreds of civilians, including 44 medical teams. Only one doctor remains, tasked with taking care of 200 patients.
The Israeli army said the operation was under the so-called name of "preventing Hamas from regaining its strength in northern Gaza," but more than 100,000 Palestinians were ultimately forced to live in hunger and thirst. Israel prevented the delivery of food and medicine, and even bombed water wells and the only bakery left in northern Gaza.
Charred houses, destroyed streets, and collapsing hospitals, this is what Northern Gaza looks like today as a result of Israel's operations. Life here has become unbearable, leaving tens of thousands of Palestinians homeless and forced to embark on a new journey of suffering and displacement.
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 43,163, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Wednesday.
Over 1,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli military operation in northern Gaza in three weeks
