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BEIJING/GUANGZHOU, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday initiated emergency measures to prepare for the approaching Typhoon Nida.
Local authorities in the provinces of Hunan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Yunnan, as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, will closely monitor the typhoon and release early-warning information, according to a circular on the website of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The China National Commission for Disaster Reduction has asked people in the forecast path of the typhoon to stock up on three days of daily essentials, the circular said, adding that emergency mechanisms for disaster relief will be activated if necessary.
Typhoon Nida will make landfall in south China's Guangdong Province during the day on Tuesday, meteorological authorities forecast.
Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, launched a first-class level emergency response order at 2 p.m. Monday. This is the fist time that Guangzhou has initiated such an order, which will mobilize people from all walks of life to prepare for the typhoon, said Zheng Hangwei, spokesperson for Guangzhou water authority.
All work, production, and classes will be suspended during the response period. Except for rescue personnel, people have been told to stay indoors.
The local civil affairs department and coastal areas should provide shelters for the public. City departments have been ordered to take measures to ensure minimum disruption to communication, water and power supplies, and have been told to provide medical care and food after the typhoon makes landfall.
The 1,946 personnel working on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge construction project were evacuated on Monday morning while 2,193 workers at an offshore oil platform were relocated Sunday evening, according to Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration.
All passenger ships, tourist boats, and ferry services at Guangzhou Port have been suspended.
The neighboring city of Shenzhen on Monday issued a yellow alert for the typhoon. It is forecast that the city will see strong winds on Monday afternoon.
All kindergartens and schools in Shenzhen suspended class on Monday. Outdoor work and sea operations will also be halted.
Affected by Typhoon Nida, 18 flights at Shenzhen airport had been canceled as of 1 p.m. on Monday.
China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
