First typhoon of the year, Chaba, strikes China

• Typhoon Chaba, the Thai name for the hibiscus flower, was moving northwest at 15-20km/h.
• Eye of the storm made landfall in Guangdong’s Maoming city on Saturday afternoon.
• Forecasters predict up to 600mm (24 inches) of cumulative rainfall in some areas.

The first typhoon of the year to hit China has brought gales and rain to its southern coasts; and forecasts are predicting record rainfall and a high danger of tragedy; in provinces like Guangdong; which is home to the majority of the nation’s population.

The National Meteorological Center reported that after the storm’s eye; made landfall in Guangdong’s Maoming city on Saturday afternoon; Typhoon Chaba, which is named after the hibiscus flower; was heading northwest at a speed of 10 to 15 miles per hour.

Gao Shuanzhu, the center’s chief forecaster, warned that Chaba; albeit moderate in intensity and anticipated to weaken over time; is likely to bring extraordinarily heavy rains and may exceed the record; for cumulative rainfall as it pushes the monsoon rain belt in the area inland.

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Gao predicted that the total amount of rainfall might reach 600mm in some regions; due to the abundance of monsoon water vapour, which will cause heavy downpours; and extremely large cumulative amounts of precipitation.

According to Gao, areas at risk include the island province of Hainan; the east of the Guangxi autonomous region; and the west of Guangdong, where China’s typhoons typically linger. Rainstorms can result in landslides urban waterlogging, and floods.

On Saturday, Hainan raised its emergency response to Level II; the second-highest. More than 400 flights to and from the cities of Haikou and Sanya were cancelled; in addition to the suspension of island-wide train operations.

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