While monsoon rains continue to trigger flood conditions across several regions in India, neighbor country China is facing severe natural disruption from powerful coastal storms. The 18th typhoon of the year, named Saudel, has lashed the eastern coast of China, triggering intense rainfall and destructive wind gusts across Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. Weather authorities launched extensive emergency protocols as the storm made multiple landfalls along the coastline, prompting mass evacuations and the deployment of response teams to protect vulnerable communities.
Typhoon Saudel Makes Three Distinct Landfalls Along Eastern Coast
According to weather science observation records, Typhoon Saudel made a total of three landfalls across eastern China. On Thursday morning at approximately 6:30 AM, the storm completed its third landfall along the coast of Zhangpu County within Zhangzhou City, located in Fujian province. During this landfall, maximum sustained wind speeds near the storm center were recorded at 23 meters per second, equivalent to approximately 86 kilometers per hour.
Prior to its Fujian landfall, Saudel struck the coastline of Zhejiang province twice on 28 August. The storm first hit the Zhejiang coast at around 8:05 AM, with peak center winds reaching 35 meters per second. Shortly thereafter, at roughly 9:10 AM, the typhoon made its second landfall along the coast of Wenzhou City in Zhejiang. At that time, maximum wind speeds were registered at 33 meters per second, reaching speeds of up to 126 kilometers per hour.
Level-1 Emergency Status Triggered Amid Mass Evacuations
In response to the escalating danger, authorities in Zhejiang province raised the emergency response level to Level-1 on 27 August, representing the highest operational alert category. Strict enforcement measures were put in place to clear all individuals, fishing boats, and commercial vessels from open waters, ensuring no maritime activities remained active during the storm's arrival.
Emergency reporting from the Fujian Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters confirmed that by 7:00 AM on 28 August, approximately 247,700 residents had been successfully evacuated from high-risk zones to safe shelters. To manage potential crisis situations, over 80,000 emergency personnel along with more than 80,000 pieces of emergency rescue equipment were organized and stationed on high alert across the affected districts.
Scientific Inspections and Forecast Trajectory
China's National Meteorological Center issued an official storm warning on the morning of 28 August, outlining the projected trajectory of Typhoon Saudel. Meteorologists indicated that the storm would move in a southwesterly direction at speeds ranging between 20 and 25 kilometers per hour while gradually losing intensity over land.
To mitigate secondary hazards such as landslides and geological slope failures, Zhejiang province conducted comprehensive safety inspections. Over 4,000 monitoring personnel conducted more than 19,000 field patrols across more than 7,200 potential geological hazard locations. Additionally, 564 geological risk experts were dispatched across 73 counties to assist local authorities in identifying high-risk terrain and managing emergency prevention measures.
