By Reuters – published by CNA and Thai Newsroom
Beijing/Taipei – China urged fishing boats to seek shelter and farmers to speed up their harvest while Taiwan suspended annual military drills as Super Typhoon Doksuri spiralled closer to East Asia, potentially reaching deep into China.
Doksuri is likely to be the most powerful typhoon to land in China so far in the storm season this year. China narrowly escaped from Typhoon Mawar, one of the strongest tropical cyclones on record for the month of May, which was headed for China but later swung north towards Japan before dissipating.
The Thai Meteorological Department said although Doksuri will not directly hit Thailand, it will exacerbate monsoon conditions during July 29- August 1 with heavy rainfall likely. Nevertheless, the situation may change and the public is urged to closely follow updates.
Those planning travel to countries Doksuri is raging through are strongly advised to check weather conditions before departing.
Nearly 1,000km in diameter, Doksuri is expected to sweep past lightly populated islands off the northern tip of the Philippines by mid-week while fierce winds and heavy rain lash Taiwan to the north.
Philippine authorities have already raised storm warning levels in the capital region and dozens of northern provinces, and have begun evacuating some coastal communities in the path of the storm.
Currently packing top wind speeds of 223km/h, Doksuri will make landfall on the Chinese mainland somewhere between Fujian and Guangdong provinces on Friday, China’s National Meteorological Centre said on Tuesday (July 25).
While Doksuri is expected to lose some power and land as either a typhoon or severe typhoon, it will still hammer Chinese cities with torrential rain and strong winds.
Fujian has ordered all offshore fishing boats to find refuge at the nearest port by Wednesday noon and told farmers to harvest their rice and other crops that have matured.
Hong Kong will suspend some high-speed rail services from Wednesday to Friday between the former British colony and coastal cities on the mainland including Fujian’s Xiamen.
Concerned about autumn grain crops, China’s ministry of agriculture and rural affairs warned on Monday that Doksuri could go deep inland after landing, affecting high-stalk crops such as corn and even rice in rural areas.
Some drills cancelled
Taiwan cancelled some of its annual military drills on Tuesday for safety reasons as authorities stepped up preparations for what they say could be the most damaging typhoon to hit the island in nearly four years.
It was not clear how the typhoon could further impact the five-day Han Kuang exercise, set to take place throughout the island this week with a focus on defending the island’s main international airport and how to keep sea lanes open in the event of a Chinese blockade.
Beijing has never renounced using force to bring the democratically governed island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and has vowed to defend its freedom and democracy.
Taiwan’s weather bureau issued sea and land warnings for southern Pingtung County and urged communities to brace for heavy rains and strong winds.
In the southern port city of Kaohsiung, authorities were rushing to collect hundreds of containers drifting in the sea after container ship Angel sank off Taiwan’s southwestern coast last week.
“Taiwan has not seen any typhoon making landfall in more than 1,400 days, and that’s why I urge all government ministries that they must gear up and make preparations,” Premier Chen Chien-Jen said in a post on Facebook.
“I’d like to remind citizens not to underestimate typhoon threats.”
CAPTIONS:
Top: Infrared satellite image of Super Typhoon Doksuri at (11:50 a.m. EDT, 10.50 p.m. in Thailand) on Monday, July 24, 2023. Credit: RAMMB/CIRA/CSU and published by Yale Climate Connections
First insert: Map shows Super Typhoon Doksuri’s path. Credit: CNN
Second insert: The powerful typhoon has disrupted Taiwan’s largest military drills. Photo: Reuters and published by BBC
Front Page: In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, stranded passengers stay at a passenger terminal after sea travel was suspended due to Super Typhoon Doksuri in Manila, Philippines on July 25, 2023. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP and published by CNA
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