Typhoon Lekima makes landfall in China as hundreds of thousands evacuated

Flood prevention efforts have been stepped up along Asia's longest waterway following the top-level weather warning.

Image: The typhoon is bringing torrential rain, heavy seas and high winds to China's eastern coast

Typhoon Lekima has made landfall on China's eastern coast, with more than 700,000 residents evacuated from the area in advance.
The typhoon hit at around 1.45am (local time).

More than 180 rescue teams, 36,000 firefighters and 8,400 fire engines were put on standby ahead of its landfall.
Flood prevention efforts were stepped up along Asia's longest waterway in the wake of the top-level warning, which has also led authorities to ready evacuations, suspend train and air travel and call for vessels to return to port.

Image: Vessels have been urged to return to port as China braces itself for extreme weather

The typhoon has already forced Taiwan to cancel flights and order the closure of markets, offices and schools.

Advertisement

It also left more than 40,000 homes without power on the island, where the authorities have issued landslide warnings following an earlier earthquake.

China's National Meteorological Centre said Lekima, gusting at 130mph, was the strongest typhoon since 2014.
It warned 24-hour rainfall levels across eastern China could reach up to 32cm (13in).
Cruise liners have been asked to delay their arrival in Shanghai, while some ships are set to be diverted to Hong Kong to help prevent accidents and collisions.
In Zhejiang, the ferry service has been cancelled and more than 200 tourists evacuated from Beiji island.
Three main streams of the Yangtze are likely to exceed alert levels.
The commission overseeing the river for the ministry of water resources has directed efforts to prevent floods and over-saturation of levees along its banks.