Save the Children stands ready to respond to Typhoon Meranti

As Super Typhoon Meranti batters Taiwan, flood-hit China braces for destructive winds and deluge of rain

 Save the Children stands ready to respond to Typhoon Meranti

September 14, 2016 – China is preparing for a deluge of rain from a category 5 ‘Super’ Typhoon, after the storm tracked past Taiwan’s southern coast today.

Typhoon Meranti, which is the strongest storm since Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, is packing sustained winds of more than 300km/h, and is due to make landfall in China on Thursday morning.

“Save the Children stands ready to respond if required, and will work with the government and other aid agencies to reach the most vulnerable communities,” Save the Children’s Deputy Country Director in China, Wang Le said.

“Typhoon Meranti is particularly worrying as it could bring heavy rainfall to areas that have already been impacted by severe flooding and landslides in China.

“In times like this we’re always very concerned about the wellbeing of children, who are especially vulnerable during disasters.”

In the Fujian province of China, the government has issued an alert for possible flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall and has already activated a level 4 emergency response plan.

Typhoon Meranti is currently battering Taiwan with destructive winds and rainfall, even though it is unlikely to make landfall there.

Save the Children is still responding to the floods in Hubei, China, which hit the region in July, affecting almost 19 million people and completely destroying over 42,000 homes.

ENDS

For media interviews from Beijing, please contact:

Jie Li
Jie.li@savethechildren.org
+ 86 139 1061 6864