Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

HIGH-SPEED trains from Shenzhen to Chaoshan, Xiamen and Hangzhou were suspended yesterday due to Typhoon Mawar, which was expected to make landfall near Shanwei last night.

Other trains, including K9098/5 and K9096/7 between Shantou and Shenzhen West Railway Station, were also suspended.

Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory forcast the possibility of heavy rain for last night or today after Mawar made landfall and moved northwest. “Typhoons generally move at speeds between 20-30 kilometers per hour, but the speed of Mawar now is below 10 kilometers per hour. It sometimes stops moving. As the size of Mawar is small, its impact on the city will be limited,” Wang Deli with Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory said yesterday.

At 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Mawar, this year’s 16th typhoon, was above the South China Sea some 135 km east of Shenzhen, packing winds of up to 25 meters per second, the observatory said.

As it is moving slowly, the impact might have a long duration, posing a high risk of geological disasters. The observatory reminded the public to stay away from the seaside, mountains and riversides.

The city’s water resources and urban management authorities prepared for Mawar by trimming and reinforcing trees, checking on anti-flood facilities and closing beach parks.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) renewed the yellow alert for Mawar yesterday.

The NMC forecast that Mawar would grow stronger while moving northwestward toward Guangdong at a speed of about 10 km per hour. The center of the typhoon is expected to weaken quickly after making landfall.

Mawar will bring gales to the waters near Fujian and Taiwan, as well as parts of the South China Sea. Meanwhile, parts of Guangdong and Fujian will experience rainstorms. The NMC suggested that local governments take precautions against possible disasters and call ships in affected areas back to port.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters activated a level III emergency response Saturday.

The headquarters dispatched eight work teams to the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Hainan, Jiangxi and Hunan and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to prepare aid and relief.