China Braces for Typhoon Haikui: Over 1 Million Evacuated as Strongest Storm of Year Makes Landfall

Typhoon Haikui, the most powerful storm to strike China this year, made landfall on the country's eastern coast on September 9, unleashing fierce winds and torrential rain. The storm prompted widespread evacuations, with over 1 million people displaced from their homes in coastal regions across Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Fujian provinces. The China Meteorological Administration reported that Haikui touched down near Yuhuan City in eastern Zhejiang province around 5:30 p.m. local time.

Authorities have taken extensive measures to mitigate the typhoon's impact. Seafaring personnel have been moved to safety, vessels have been recalled, and inspections of reservoirs, mountain streams, landslide-prone areas, construction sites, and tourist attractions have been intensified. The China National Meteorological Center forecasts heavy rainfall across Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Fujian, northeastern Jiangxi, central and southern Anhui, and most of Jiangsu until September 10. Some areas in central and eastern Zhejiang could receive between 250 to 500 millimeters of rain.

Wang Haiping, chief forecaster at the China Central Meteorological Observatory, told CCTV that Haikui is expected to move westward after landfall and gradually weaken over central and southwestern China. This trajectory could prolong the period of heavy rainfall, increasing the risk of floods and landslides, particularly in mountainous areas and along smaller rivers. The typhoon had previously swept through Japan's southern Okinawa Prefecture, injuring six people and causing power outages in over 50,000 homes.

Transportation in eastern China was severely affected on September 9. Shanghai evacuated over 33,000 residents and canceled approximately 1,500 flights, according to flight tracking website VariFlight. In Zhejiang province, the city of Wenzhou evacuated more than 900,000 residents and opened over 1,000 emergency shelters. Fujian province raised its typhoon emergency response to Level 3, evacuating 98,900 people from high-risk areas. Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jiangsu also activated Level 3 emergency response mechanisms. The Fujian Maritime Safety Administration reported the suspension of 55 coastal passenger ferry routes and the halt of 115 offshore engineering projects, with 290 construction vessels relocated to safe waters.

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Haikui will continue to move westward after landfall, then slow down and gradually weaken in central and southwestern China.