On August 3, Typhoon Hagupit swept across Taiwan (China) with strong winds and heavy rain, killing at least 1 person and injuring 1 person before making landfall in Zhejiang Province, eastern China.
In Taipei, an employee at a pumping station fell into water and was later found dead, according to the Taiwan Emergency Operations Center (CEOC). A motorcyclist in Taipei was injured by a fallen tree. On late August 3, the Taiwan Meteorological Forecast Agency warned people in coastal areas to be vigilant in the coming days as heavy rain is expected.
On August 3, Zhejiang Province, eastern China, raised emergency response to Hagupit to level 2 on a 4-level warning scale, according to Xinhua.
Zhejiang Meteorological Agency has warned of high tides and strong winds, as well as secondary disasters such as floodwaters in mountains and landslides due to heavy rain.
People in coastal areas in the eastern region - which are prone to frequent flooding - have been evacuated ahead of the expected heavy rains there.
Fishing vessels were evacuated in Fujian, according to local reports. In Zhejiang, ferry services and some trains were suspended on August 3.
The National Meteorological Center also warned that two to three typhoons will hit China in August, while the average for this month is 1.9 since00.
Hagupit formed on August 1. On August 2, the National Meteorological Center issued a green alert (level 4) to the southeastern provinces. Local authorities have been ordered to prepare for emergency response to possible natural disasters.
Meanwhile, some areas in eastern and southern China are still fighting severe flooding for decades. Many places are still in a state of high alert after 2 months of heavy rain that flooded cities along the Yangtze and Hoai Ha rivers.
The Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric plant, along the Yangtze River, has been under great pressure in the three worst floods in the past two months. The dam was completed in 2003.
The Chinese government is calling for "comprehensive efforts" to reduce flooding and support post-disaster recovery.
Flooding in China is affecting 55 million people in 27 of the 31 provinces. At least 158 people have died or gone missing as of July 28, with economic losses reaching more than $20 billion.
