China: Transportation services canceled Sep. 14 ahead of Mangkhut arrival /update 1

Event

Southern China is preparing for the arrival of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, forecast to make landfall on Monday, September 17, by canceling train and ferry services on Friday, September 14. High-speed rail services between Guangdong and Hunan provinces were canceled, along with trains between Guangzhou, Shenzen, and Hong Kong. Ferry service between Guangdong and Hainan island have also been cut. Hong Kong airline providers announced they are preparing to scale back or fully cut flights to the region beginning this weekend. More than 100,000 people in southern China have sought shelter away from coastal regions.

Mangkhut is located 1465 km (910 mi) southeast of Hong Kong as of 08:00 (local time) on Friday and the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. The eye of the storm is expected to make landfall in southern Guangdong province near the Leizhou peninsula, though damaging winds, heavy rain, and flooding is expected across Hainan, Guangxi, and Guangdong provinces, as well as Hong Kong and Macau, beginning the morning (local time) of Sunday, September 16. The storm is 900 km (560 mi) wide and producing sustained winds of 278 km/h (173 mph). It will cross northern Philippines on Saturday, September 15, and weaken slightly before continuing toward China.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to stay abreast of local weather reports, adhere to instructions given by local authorities, anticipate transportation, power, and telecommunication disruptions, and avoid flood-prone areas until the situation stabilizes. Travelers utilizing airports in southern China are advised to confirm their flight status before traveling to the airport and anticipate delays and cancelations. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater and chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.