Shanghai Cancels Flights As Typhoon In-Fa Hits China's East Coast

Airline flights and trains were cancelled as Typhoon In-fa hit China's east coast south of Shanghai, on Sunday.

The typhoon made landfall in Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, and the public was ordered to stay indoors, state TV reported, citing the national weather agency. It forecast rainfall of 250-350 millimetres (10-14 inches).

“People should not willingly go outdoors,” the bureau said.

Accordingly, hundreds of flights at Shanghai Pudong and Shanghai Hongqiao airports were cancelled and more were expected to be cancelled on Monday, state TV added. Shanghai closed parks and the riverfront Bund district, a popular tourist area.

Also, the international airport in Hangzhou, southwest of Shanghai, cancelled flights.

Train service to Ningbo, a port city south of Shanghai, was suspended, according to state TV. The Zhoushan Bridge that connects islands near Ningbo was closed, as were schools, markets and businesses in Zhejiang province.

On Saturday, large container ships were moved from Yangshan Port in Shanghai, one of the world's busiest shipping centres. State TV mentioned that a ship lock in Nantong, which abuts Shanghai to the north, stopped releasing vessels into the Yangtze River.

Meanwhile, in central China, the death toll rose to 58 after record rains hit the major city of Zhengzhou on Tuesday, state TV reported.