China activates emergency response to flooding in Zhejiang, Fujian

BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Water Resources on Monday activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in the eastern provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian as Typhoon Danas approaches.

Danas — the fourth typhoon of this year, as counted by China's meteorological authorities — made landfall in Taiwan late Sunday night and exited to sea early Monday morning. It is forecast to make a second landfall along the coast between Taizhou in Zhejiang and Ningde in Fujian sometime between Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening, the ministry said.

The typhoon will bring heavy rainfall to affected regions from Monday to Thursday, with parts of southeastern Zhejiang, the eastern coast of Fujian and central-eastern Jiangxi province expected to experience heavy to torrential rains.

Rivers, including the Qiantang River in Zhejiang and its tributaries, will experience significant rises in water levels. Some small and medium-sized rivers within the rainstorm zone could rise past warning levels, and there are high risks of mountain torrents in hilly areas, the ministry has warned.

It is closely monitoring Danas' path and development, and is guiding local water authorities on specific preparation measures, said the ministry, adding that it has dispatched a team to Zhejiang to assist with local typhoon response efforts.

China has a four-tier flood control emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response.