Over 200,000 people were reportedly evacuated in Guangdong, a southern province in China, due to Tropical Storm Tapah’s September 8 landfall.
According to the Associated Press, the China Meteorological Administration disclosed that Tapah hit land around 8:50 a.m. local time near Taishan (aka Taishan City and the “First Home of the Overseas Chinese”). Xinhua News Agency noted Tapah’s approach and presence reportedly led to school closures, rescheduled court hearings, and temporary pauses on transportation services, such as trains and ferries.
The tropical cyclone brought extreme rain and winds to Southern China. Al Jazeera reported that Guangdong’s Emergency Management Department closed the province’s parks and beaches.
Guangdong has reportedly experienced 16 typhoons this year so far. Though typhoons are regionally prone between May and December, they are more common between July and October.
In nearby Hong Kong, Tapah contributed to flight disruptions. Hong Kong International Airport issued a September 8 statement. It noted that as of 5 p.m. local time, “about 140 flights were cancelled and 370 flights delayed.” The source further explained that the disruptions were a result of “strong winds and crosswinds.”
Due to Tapah, the special administrative region on China’s southern coast reportedly issued its third-highest storm warning: the No. 8.
What Is A Typhoon?
A typhoon is a tropical cyclone. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explains that the weather phenomenon’s name varies depending on the region where it occurs and the speaker. The name typhoon is used to reference tropical cyclones that happen in the Northwest Pacific. However, in the North Atlantic and both the central and eastern North Pacific, it’s called a hurricane. Elsewhere, such as the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, the weather disturbance is referred to as a tropical cyclone.
