Liaoning Cities Shut Down as Typhoon Bavi Brings Torrential Rain

Shenyang and several other cities in Liaoning Province suspended classes, work and business today as Typhoon Bavi brought torrential rain and rising flood risks, provincial authorities said.

The Shenyang flood control and drought relief headquarters launched the highest flood emergency response today and ordered emergency avoidance measures across the city, including school, workplace and business suspensions.

From 8pm yesterday to 9am today, heavy rain to extremely heavy rain hit central Liaoning. Thirteen weather stations in Shenyang recorded extraordinary rainstorms.

The Liaoning flood control and drought relief headquarters said Shenyang, Fushun, Jinzhou, Tieling and Panjin had all suspended classes, business and work citywide.

The province had relocated 171,412 people to avoid danger, including 156,933 in Fushun.

The rain caused sharp rises in several rivers, including the Liaohe, Hunhe, Taizihe and Puhe rivers.

At 6am today, the Liaoning meteorological observatory issued orange alerts for rainstorms and severe convective weather. It forecast heavy downpours from 7am today to 8pm tomorrow in parts of Shenyang, Anshan, Fushun, Benxi, Jinzhou, Yingkou, Liaoyang, Tieling, Panjin, Huludao, the Shenfu Demonstration Zone and the northern and central Bohai Sea.

Rainfall in those areas was expected to reach 100 to 180 millimeters, with 200 to 250 millimeters in some places. Localized areas could see 300 to 380 millimeters, and individual weather stations could record more than 400 millimeters.

The Liaoning Department of Water Resources ordered defenses for reservoirs and rivers, stepped up flood forecasting and warning, and sent forecast results to affected areas.

The provincial emergency management department coordinated several rescue teams to strengthen standby duty. It also instructed local emergency departments to tighten flood-season safety oversight of mines, tailings ponds, hazardous chemical sites and manufacturing companies.

On the evening of July 12, the Liaoning grain and material reserves authority sent 20,000 provincial-level disaster relief items, including quilts and towel blankets, to four areas in Fushun: Qingyuan County, Xinbin County, Fushun County and Wanghua District.