Typhoon Muifa Ports In Zhejiang Shut Down As Typhoon Approaches

  Authorities in China’s eastern Zhejiang province ordered ships back to port, told schools to close and evacuated tourists from nearby islands as one of the strongest typhoons this year is set to make landfall on Wednesday.   

  Typhoon Muifa intensified on Tuesday as it moved toward the twin cities of Ningbo and Zhoushan, which share the ranking of China’s second-busiest port in terms of cargo handled.   

  State media said China’s 12th cyclone of the year was expected to make landfall between the cities of Wenling and Zhoushan, bringing torrential rains that would sweep eastern and southern coastal areas.   

  This includes the commercial hub of Shanghai, just north of Ningbo and Zhoushan, the official Xinhua news agency reported.   

  Waves of up to 5 meters (16 feet) are expected near Shanghai, China’s busiest container port.   

  Shanghai will suspend some of its port operations, including the Yangshan terminal and others, from Tuesday afternoon and halt all operations on Wednesday morning, the Shanghai International Maritime Institute said.   

  China Southern Airlines said it canceled 25 flights at Shanghai airports on Tuesday and plans to cancel 11 more on Wednesday.   

  About 13,000 people from islands and tourist sites near Zhoushan have been evacuated, state television reported.   

  Nearly 7,400 commercial ships sought refuge in Zhejiang ports, including Zhoushan, Ningbo and Taizhou, while passenger ferry services across the province were suspended from midday, state media reported.   

  The three cities and Shanghai together have a population of 42.26 million.   

  The Zhejiang government ordered all fishing boats to return to the dock before noon.  Ningbo, Zhoushan and Taizhou ordered the suspension of schools on Wednesday.   

  All flights at Ningbo and Zhoushan airports were canceled for Wednesday, flight data platform Variflight told Reuters.   

  Meteorological authorities said Muifa’s center was located about 490 kilometers (304.5 miles) southeast of the Zhejiang city of Xiangshan.  The typhoon will move northwest after making landfall and gradually weaken, the Central Meteorological Service added.