Typhoon In-fa hits east coast, canceling flights

Typhoon In-fa hit China’s east coast south of Shanghai yesterday after people living near the sea were evacuated, airline flights and trains were canceled and the public was ordered to stay indoors.
The typhoon made landfall in Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, state TV reported, citing the national weather agency. It forecast rainfall of 10-14 inches.
“People should not willingly go outdoors,” the bureau said.
The typhoon earlier dumped rain on Taiwan and knocked down tree branches, but no deaths or injuries were reported.
About 330,000 residents of Fengxian District on Shanghai’s southern edge were evacuated after wind speeds off shore reached 60 mph, the newspaper China Daily reported.
Hundreds of flights at Shanghai Pudong and Shanghai Hongqiao airports were canceled and more were expected to be canceled on Monday, state TV reported. Shanghai closed parks and the riverfront Bund district, a popular tourist area.
The international airport in Hangzhou, southwest of Shanghai, also canceled 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 centers. State TV said a ship lock in Nantong, which abuts Shanghai to the north, stopped releasing vessels into the Yangtze River. MDT/AP