China activates response mechanism for Typhoon Hato

Chinese authorities activated a national disaster alert and response mechanism for Typhoon Hato Tuesday afternoon, to help local civil affairs departments prepare for relief work.

Civil affairs departments in several southern provinces should remain on duty around the clock, according to an urgent notice issued by China National Commission for Disaster Reduction, in coordination with the Ministry of Civil Affairs.` The notice asked local authorities publicize forecasts regarding Hato and its predicted routes to enable residents to move to safe places and ships to return to harbor.

The departments should inform residents in typhoon-affected areas to stockpile enough daily necessities for one to three days, said the notice, adding that relief materials and funds should also be prepared to guarantee the basic requirements of disaster-hit residents.

Hato is the 13th typhoon to hit China this year. It is forecast to make landfall in Guangdong Province Wednesday and then move west while losing strength.

Thousands evacuated, trains halted as Typhoon Hato approaches China

Thousands of people were evacuated Tuesday in parts of south China in preparation for the arrival of Typhoon Hato, set to make landfall Wednesday.

The eye of Hato, the 13th typhoon to hit China this year, was recorded 415 km southeast of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. It is expected to move northwest at speeds between 20 kph and 25 kph, according to Guangdong provincial meteorological bureau.

The coast between Zhuhai and Yangjiang should prepare for the typhoon to make landfall on Wednesday morning, it said.

Fishermen and fish farm workers have been evacuated from the coast.

Train services on the Guangzhou-Nanning line will be suspended starting 5 a.m. Wednesday, said railway authorities in neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Nanning is the regional capital.

High-speed trains linking Shenzhen with the eastern provinces of Fujian and Jiangxi will also be canceled. In coastal Fujian, more than 4,000 fish farmers and their families have returned to shore and all fishing boats returned to harbor Tuesday.

The typhoon is expected to bring heavy rain to Guangdong and Fujian. Huge waves as high as ten meters are expected in the South China Sea as the typhoon moves past, according to the State Oceanic Administration.

Guangdong’s flood relief agency said Hato could cause severe damage because it is growing stronger as it nears shore. The typhoon also comes at a time when the Guangdong coast was busy with tourists and fish farm workers. The agency warned of possible severe flooding in low-lying areas.

On Tuesday, southwestern province of Guizhou has also started disaster alert measures ahead of the typhoon’s arrival.

From Tuesday to Friday, Guizhou will see rainstorms in its western and southern areas, according to the provincial meteorological bureau. Some regions are expected to receive over 300 millimeters of precipitation.

The provincial disaster relief office has issued warnings for natural disasters.

China on yellow alert for rainstorms

China’s national weather observatory issued a yellow alert for rainstorms on Tuesday as heavy rain is expected in most of southern China and parts of northern China over the next 24 hours.

From Tuesday to Wednesday, torrential rain is expected in parts of Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Shanxi, Hebei and Liaoning provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Some regions will receive up to 190 millimeters of precipitation, the NMC said.

The center warned local authorities to limit outdoor activities and take precautions against flooding and geological disasters.

This year’s 13th typhoon, Hato, is expected to make landfall in Guangdong on Wednesday, bringing torrential rain and gales over the coming days.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

Informants to get more cash rewards over food, drugs scandals

Chinese authorities announced Tuesday a raise in cash rewards for whistleblowers who report on food safety, drugs, cosmetics, health products, and medical equipment.

The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) and the Ministry of Finance stated that a single tip-off will be rewarded with up to 500,000 yuan (about 75,000 U.S. dollars) instead of the previous limit of 300,000 yuan.

The regulation also states that informants who are insiders in the product’s development, manufacture, sales or applications could be rewarded with extra cash on top of the new limit.

It also states clearly that the identities of informants should be strictly protected. Anonymous reporters will get a code from food and drug supervisors as a way to claim rewards.

Food safety, long a headache for Chinese customers, poses a severe challenge for quality watchdogs due to the vast amount of food on sale and the limited number of supervisory staff.