Typhoon Shadel causes severe flooding and destruction in Fujian

Typhoon Shadel has caused severe flooding and record-breaking rainfall across Fujian province, leading to significant infrastructure damage and social disruption. In Putian, over 100 houses have collapsed due to sudden floods, leaving several people missing and elderly residents or children trapped in flooded areas. The heavy rains also destroyed the historic Jinfeng Bridge in Xianyou, a structure dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty.

In Fuzhou, the timing of school closure announcements caused significant inconvenience for families. Notifications were issued near the morning peak, resulting in many students and parents having to navigate heavy rain and traffic to return home after already arriving at or nearing school.

To manage the crisis, authorities in Fujian have evacuated nearly 600,000 people. Major disruptions include the suspension of ferry services in Xiamen and various school and work closures across Fuzhou, Zhangzhou, and Quanzhou. The National Development and Reform Commission has allocated an additional 100 million yuan in central budget investment to support emergency recovery efforts in the region.