Severe rainfall floods Zhejiang and Fujian as revived storm makes its third landfall and authorities rush food and water to stranded students
BEIJING — More than 2,500 teachers and students were trapped inside a school compound in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, after torrential rain linked to Typhoon Saudel triggered flash flooding in the low-lying area, according to Chinese state media.
The students and teachers were stranded on Wednesday, Sept. 2, as floodwaters rapidly rose around the school grounds. Authorities responded by using drones to deliver food, drinking water and other essential supplies to those trapped inside the compound.
The flooding came as Saudel, an unusually persistent tropical system, regained strength after weakening over land and returned to China’s coastal region.
Saudel Makes Third Landfall in China
Typhoon Saudel made its third landfall in China early Thursday, Sept. 3, along the coast of Zhangpu County in Zhangzhou, Fujian province.
China’s meteorological authorities said the storm reached the coast at around 6:30 a.m., packing maximum sustained winds of about 23 metres per second, or roughly 83 km/h.
The storm had previously made two landfalls in Zhejiang on Aug. 28, striking the Taizhou and Wenzhou areas before weakening as it moved inland.
But Saudel did not simply disappear.
After weakening into a tropical depression, its circulation moved back over the warm waters of the South China Sea, allowing the system to reorganise and strengthen again. WeatherNews described the redevelopment as an unusual example of a tropical cyclone regaining strength after crossing land.
Floodwaters Sweep Through Fujian
The latest round of heavy rain has also caused serious flooding in Fujian.
Footage from Fuding showed muddy floodwaters rushing through low-lying streets, submerging vehicles and carrying debris through affected areas. Authorities suspended work, industrial activity and classes in the city beginning Wednesday.
Schools in Zhangzhou and Quanzhou were also closed as authorities prepared for continued heavy rainfall.
China’s weather authorities warned that parts of Fujian and Guangdong could experience very heavy or exceptionally heavy rainfall, with some areas expected to receive rainfall totals of up to 300 millimetres.
Earlier Impact Was Already Severe
Saudel’s first passage through eastern China last week had already caused widespread disruption.
When the storm made its first two landfalls in Zhejiang on Aug. 28, authorities evacuated more than 820,000 people in Wenzhou, while Taizhou identified tens of thousands of residents requiring relocation.
Rail services were temporarily suspended, ferry routes were closed and Fujian activated an emergency response as the storm moved across the region.
The latest flooding therefore comes less than a week after the region dealt with Saudel’s initial impact.
Guangdong Braces for More Rain
After striking Fujian, Saudel is expected to move westward toward Guangdong while gradually weakening.
The threat, however, is not immediately over.
Heavy rainfall was expected to continue across parts of Fujian and Guangdong through Friday, with authorities warning of possible flooding and other hazards caused by saturated ground and rapidly rising water levels.
Several areas in Guangdong have already suspended classes or activated typhoon warnings. The Nan’ao Bridge, which connects Nan’ao Island with mainland Guangdong, was also closed as authorities prepared for the storm.
A Rare and Unusual Storm Track
Saudel’s behaviour has attracted particular attention because of its unusual journey.
The system weakened significantly after moving inland, but its circulation survived and later reorganised over warm waters. It then strengthened again before moving back toward southern China.
South China Morning Post described the storm as having “revived” after its earlier weakening, while WeatherNews noted the unusual atmospheric conditions that helped the system redevelop.
For residents in Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong, however, the science behind Saudel’s unusual track offers little comfort as heavy rain continues.
For the more than 2,500 teachers and students who were stranded in Wenzhou, the immediate priority has been much simpler: staying safe while emergency teams keep supplies moving.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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