BEIJING: Typhoon Doksuri made landfall in eastern China on Friday morning, unleashing high winds and torrential rains along coastal areas after bypassing Taiwan during its journey from the Philippines.
The storm hit the coast of Fujian province with wind speeds reaching up to 175 kilometers per hour (110 miles per hour) around 10:00 am (0200 GMT), as reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Fearing potential danger to residents and property destruction, the national weather observatory issued the most severe “red alert” in its four-tier system on Friday.
Social media users shared images of massive gusts of wind battering residential tower blocks in Jinjiang, a county-level urban area south of Quanzhou city. Live footage from CCTV showed a reporter navigating flooded streets amid fallen trees, advising viewers in the area to stay indoors unless faced with emergencies.
Videos on the social media platform Weibo, posted by the state-backed People’s Daily, depicted colossal waves crashing over embankments and fierce winds sweeping through urban regions.
Typhoon Doksuri to Continue Moving Over Central China
Typhoon Doksuri, a powerful storm, is projected to continue moving northwest over central China with its intensity gradually diminishing. China’s state news agency Xinhua reported that storm-level gales would impact coastal areas of Taiwan, Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and others until 8 am on Saturday.
Furthermore, China’s National Meteorological Center renewed an orange alert for rainstorms across large portions of the country, effective from 2 pm Friday until 2 pm Saturday. Local governments and transport authorities were cautioned to take necessary precautions due to the anticipated impact on drainage systems and roads from heavy rainfall.
Earlier in the week, Doksuri struck the northern Philippines, resulting in toppled trees, power disruptions, landslides, and floods. As of Friday, the death toll in the Philippines has risen to 13, with 21 people reported missing, including four coast guard rescuers, according to the national disaster agency.
Doksuri had initially been classified as a super typhoon as it traversed the Pacific Ocean but had weakened slightly as it approached the Philippines.
