Typhoon Chan-Hom causes flooding, power cuts and panic buying

A woman holds her umbrella while walking against strong winds as Typhoon Chan-hom approaches Taiwan, in Taipei, July 10, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

In Zhejiang province, coastal cities, including Wenzhou and Taizhou, have raised the typhoon alarm to the top level, which requires all outdoor activities to cease. People living and working in dangerous areas will be evacuated, and all ships and boats must return to ports.

In Taizhou, 120,000 people, including local officials and armed police, formed 6,700 teams－an average of 18 people per team－to deal with emergencies when the typhoon hits.

Hu Yaowen, director of the Zhejiang Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Office, said the province has checked dangerous areas along the coastline to make sure that damage to local residents will be minimized.

Hu said that since the typhoon will hover over the province for two to three days, geological hazards including landslides and mudslides may become major threats.

Another typhoon, Nangka, that has formed in the northwest Pacific Ocean is expected to move northwest and is unlikely to strike the country.

Typhoon Linfa, the previous typhoon to hit China, made landfall in Guangdong province on Thursday, bringing torrential rains to the coastal area. No casualties were reported.