Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    SHENZHEN initiated a Level-IV emergency response to cope with Typhoon Kalmaegi yesterday, which was expected to be the strongest typhoon to affect Shenzhen so far this year.

    Kalmaegi could make landfall along the coast between Yangjiang City of Guangdong Province and Wanning of Hainan Province today, Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory said yesterday. China has a four-level typhoon emergency response system — Level-I calls for the highest emergency response while Level-IV calls for the lowest.

    Shenzhen Party chief Wang Rong and Mayor Xu Qin yesterday ordered related departments to brace for the arrival of Kalmaegi.

    All ships were called back to shelter bays and coastal parks, including Dameisha and Xiaomeisha, were closed at 6 p.m. yesterday.

    The 15th typhoon this year, Kalmaegi was to edge 350 kilometers away from Shenzhen early today and bring heavy rain between 40-70 millimeters to the city yesterday and today, the observatory said yesterday.

    The observatory was expected to issue a yellow typhoon alert late last night, which would require schools to close.

    Four flights to Haikou, capital of Hainan Province, from Shenzhen yesterday were cancelled. Today’s four flights (HU7024, HU7750, HU7023 and HU7749) between Shenzhen and Sanya, Hainan Province, were also cancelled. Travelers are advised to call 0755-23456789 for the most up-to-date flight and weather information.

    Shenzhen police advised drivers who were caught in floodwaters to call 110 or 83162933 for assistance towing their vehicles.