Tropical storm Fung-wong makes landfall in Eastern China

Tuesday, September 23, 2014 

Fung-wong on September 20th approaching Taiwan.
Image: NASA.

Tropical Storm Fung-wong made landfall in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, at about 7:35 p.m local time (1135 UTC) yesterday, bringing with it reportedly 100kph (60mph) winds and heavy rains.

China prepared for the storms by recalling nearly 33,000 ships and boats to port, and the preemptive evacuation of over 250,000 people from vulnerable areas. Fung-Wong was moving inland, northwards and eastwards, and as it did so wind speeds and the possibility of wind damage should diminish however it should continue to present a flooding risk. The storm was expected to hit Shanghai today, and around 100,000 people were placed on standby to deal with possible flooding. Fung-wong should also lead to heavy rain in Japan and South Korea bringing with it the threat of flash floods.

Prior to hitting China, Fung-wong had previously landed in Taiwan and the Philippines, leading directly to one death in Taiwan. Philippine officials said flooding and strong winds caused a minimum of ten deaths in the Philippines, with about 200,000 people displaced from their homes.

Sources

• Mu Xuequan. "Typhoon Fung-Wong lands in east China" — Xinhua, September 22, 2014
• Lawrence Chung. "Three deaths reported as tropical storm Fung-Wong lashes Taiwan" — South China Morning Post, September 22, 2014
• Adam Douty. "China, South Korea, Japan Facing Flood Threat From Fung-wong" — Accuweather, September 23, 2014
• "Fung-Wong storm: 200,000 displaced in Philippines" — BBC News Online, September 20, 2014