East China's Jiangsu Province launched on Monday a level-IV emergency response for Typhoon Talim, the 4th typhoon of this year which is approaching the province, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief authorities. It is expected that Typhoon Talim will continue to rapidly intensify, reaching a maximum strength of a strong typhoon at Category 14.
Affected by the peripheral trough of Typhoon Talim, heavy rainfall has been reported in the central part between the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, as well as in the western part of the Yangtze River. The central northern part of Nanjing, the central southern part of Yangzhou, the central part of Taizhou, and the central southern part of Yancheng have been greatly affected, with varying degrees of urban waterlogging in many places.
According to the latest real-time data on 24-hour precipitation nationwide released by the Central Meteorological Observatory, as of 2 pm Monday, Yangzhou, Dongtai and Nanjing ranked among the top three in the country with precipitations of 181.3 millimeters,164.5 millimeters and 153.6 millimeters.
Faced with heavy rainfall, emergency response measures were taken in various parts of Jiangsu with all levels of security departments making every effort to organize flood control and emergency response.
140 people from 32 households in Zhangfucang Village were flooded. More than 200 agents including local fire squadrons, police officers, urban management personnel, and community party members and cadres quickly launched rescue efforts. All the villagers have been evacuated to places of safety.
Zhenjiang recorded a maximum rainfall of 81.5 millimeters, exceeding the historic high of 76 millimeters. A bus was trapped in the rainstorm. After receiving the alarm, firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and used rubber boats to rescue 9 trapped people in two batches.
The rainstorm caused serious waterlogging of some bridges and tunnels in Nanjing, Yangzhou, Taizhou and Yancheng. Local fire and transportation departments have taken swift action to expedite traffic and drainage barriers, ensuring the safety of travel.
Affected by heavy rainfall, the water level of some rivers and lakes in Jiangsu Province rose rapidly. The water level of Dongshan Station in the Qinhuai River basin rose nearly 1.5 meters in a day, and the water level of Xinghua Station in Lixia River rose rapidly about 0.15 meters after 8 a.m. Monday.
Starting from 8am on Monday, Jiangsu launched a Level IV emergency response for flood prevention in the southern region of the Huaihe River. China has a four-tier weather warning system, with Level-I being the most severe.
According to meteorological forecasts, Talim is moving west by north at a speed of 10 to 15 km per hour toward the west of Guangdong and east of Hainan province, and is likely to land in these coastal areas between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
The meteorological observatory of Guangdong forecast that strong winds and heavy rainfall will hit the province from Monday to Tuesday due to the typhoon, warning of possible damage to coastal ports, seawalls and related facilities, as well as crops.
