China issues Level III marine disaster alert for Zhejiang and Fujian

The Ministry of Natural Resources renewed the marine disaster emergency response for Zhejiang and Fujian provinces to Level III — the third-highest level in its four-tier system — on Friday, in response to the combined effects of Typhoon Champi and a cold air outbreak.

The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center also issued a blue storm-surge alert and an orange wave alert. In China's marine warning system, red represents the highest level, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.

From Thursday to Friday, the combined impact of the typhoon and cold air caused coastal waters from Shanghai to Fujian to experience storm surges of 30 to 80 centimeters. Additionally, the southern East China Sea was hit by rough seas measuring 6 to 9 meters, and nearshore areas off southern Zhejiang and Fujian recorded waves 4 to 5 meters high.

The ministry instructed marine authorities in the affected areas to enhance their efforts in observation and monitoring, consultation and assessment, and forecasting and warning, as well as disaster investigation and evaluation.

It cautioned vessels and maritime operators to steer clear of rough seas and protect against tidal flooding, while advising low-lying coastal regions to strengthen their defenses against seawater intrusion.