Taiwan authorities said Kong-rey was the strongest typhoon to make landfall on the island in nearly a decade. The storm is forecast to track north-northeast, with winds expected to peak at 184 kilometers per hour.

Heavy rainfall is anticipated in Shanghai and the provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, with Zhejiang preparing for a significant impact.

As the typhoon nears eastern China, railway authorities in the Yangtze River Delta Region have suspended multiple train services, particularly affecting high-speed rail lines such as the Hangzhou-Shenzhen, Shanghai-Kunming, Hangzhou-Changsha, and Hefei-Fuzhou routes.

Zhejiang escalated its emergency response to Level II for typhoon preparedness, with maritime safety measures heightened to Level III.

As of 8 am on Thursday, 45 of Zhejiang's 152 water passenger ferry routes have been suspended. Additionally, 62 out of its 136 water-related construction projects under development have been halted, with 593 workers safely evacuated from the vessels.

Jia Yan, deputy chief forecaster at the Zhejiang Meteorological Observatory, issued a warning about the impending impact of Kong-rey on the province on Thursday morning. She highlighted the period from Thursday night to Friday as critical, anticipating widespread heavy rainfall that significantly heightens the risk of flood disasters.

"Precautions need to be taken to prevent urban and rural water-logging, as well as secondary disasters such as localized flash floods, mudslides and landslides. Additionally, there will be prolonged periods of strong winds at sea, necessitating enhanced safety measures for maritime traffic and operations," she said.

Fujian province also raised its emergency response level in response to Kong-rey's impact. Railway and maritime services have suspended several train services and halted 71 coastal passenger ferry routes affecting 190 vessels. Meanwhile, 115 coastal construction projects have been stopped until further notice.

Specialized rescue forces, including rescue ships, helicopters and patrol boats, have been deployed on standby to respond to potential emergencies, as confirmed by Fujian maritime authorities.

[email protected]