Full Breakdown
Typhoon Saudel Strikes Zhejiang Province, Prompting Massive Evacuations and Transport Disruptions
8/29/2026, 4:48:09 AM
Core Event: Dual Landfalls and Immediate Impacts
On August 28, Typhoon Saudel made two successive landfalls on China’s eastern coast, first in Taizhou at about 8:05 a.m. and then in Wenzhou at about 9:10 a.m., according to state media. The landfalls triggered large-scale evacuations, the suspension of passenger ferries, and a temporary halt of rail services across Zhejiang.
Background & Context
Saudel was the third typhoon to hit Zhejiang in 2026, matching the province’s 2004 record of three landfalling typhoons in a year. The region had already endured Typhoon Bavi earlier in the month and Typhoon Dolphin three weeks prior.
Data & Statistics
- Evacuations: Wenzhou ordered the evacuation of more than 820,000 people; Taizhou identified 52,000 residents for evacuation.
- Maritime activity: Eight passenger ferry routes in Taizhou were suspended, and 14,682 marine fishing vessels in Zhejiang were moved to shelters, protecting nearly 48,000 crew members and 1,906 aquaculture workers.
- Rail services: China Railway Shanghai Group suspended services on several lines in Zhejiang from August 27-28.
- Air travel: Ningbo Lishe International Airport halted all flights from 11:30 p.m. on Thursday; 90 flights were cancelled in Wenzhou on Thursday and 197 on Friday; 16 flights were cancelled at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport.
- Wind speeds: Reported maximum sustained winds ranged from 126 km/h to 139 km/h, with gusts up to 216 km/h.
- Rainfall forecasts: Authorities projected 200–400 mm of rain for Zhejiang and Fujian, with localized totals up to 500 mm; hourly rates could exceed 80 mm.
Official Statements & Responses
- Xinhua warned of heavy rain and possible torrential downpours across Zhejiang and Fujian.
- CCTV reported the evacuation orders, ferry suspensions, and rail interruptions.
- The National Meteorological Center issued a red typhoon warning and cautioned about waterlogging in low-lying farmland.
- Zhejiang authorities raised their emergency response to Level I, deploying 4,000 supervisors for 19,000 patrols at 7,200 high-risk sites.
- The China Meteorological Administration activated a Level 2 emergency response, directing reservoirs to release a combined 893 million m³ of water in advance of the storm.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Wind intensity: Sources differ on peak sustained winds—126 km/h, 139 km/h, and a red-alert figure of 162 km/h.
- Flight cancellations: Numbers vary between 90 and 197 cancelled flights in Wenzhou and 16 at Taoyuan, reflecting different reporting windows.
- Rainfall estimates: Forecasts range from 200–400 mm to 250–280 mm for the same regions, indicating uncertainty in localized precipitation modeling.
On-the-Ground Reports
A vehicle was photographed navigating a flooded road in Longwan district, Wenzhou, as heavy rains continued. Residents inspected damage to infrastructure, including collapsed scaffolding, in the days after the landfalls.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a physically big storm, and that matters more than the peak wind number for anyone thinking about disruption,” — James Caron
What’s Next
The China Meteorological Administration expects heavy rain to persist through the end of the month, maintaining flood and landslide risks across Zhejiang, Fujian, and downstream provinces. Emergency response teams remain on standby, and transportation services are scheduled to resume gradually as conditions improve.
