China’s coastal regions on high alert as Typhoon Saudel cancels flights, ferries
Airports in China’s Zhejiang and Fujian provinces remained on high alert for potential delays and cancellations as Typhoon Saudel approached landfall on Wednesday, after multiple flights were cancelled in Taiwan and…
Source: South China Morning Post · August 26, 2026 at 5:01 AM · AI-assisted report
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ZHEJIANG, FUJIAN, XIANGSHAN, FUQING, TAIZHOU, TAOYUAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, HONG KONG, OKINAWA, GUANGDONG, BEIHAI, WEIZHOU ISLAND, HAINAN, QIONGZHOU STRAIT, KUALA LUMPUR, 26 AUGUST 2026 —
Typhoon Saudel disrupts travel in China; Malaysia-bound flights unaffected
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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Coastal regions in China’s Zhejiang and Fujian provinces remain on high alert as Typhoon Saudel approaches landfall, disrupting flights and ferry services. The typhoon, which entered the East China Sea early Wednesday, has already forced cancellations in Taiwan and Hong Kong, with 16 flights suspended at Taoyuan International Airport. Affected airlines included Peach, China Airlines, EVA Air, Starlux, and Thai Lion Air.
Hong Kong Airlines fully cancelled its HX658/HX659 flights to Okinawa, while HK Express rescheduled services to August 27.
In Malaysia, no immediate impact on flights or shipping has been reported. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) is monitoring the situation but has not issued any advisories for local ports or airports.
Saudel, the seventh typhoon to hit China this year, is forecast to make landfall between Thursday night and Friday morning along the coast from Xiangshan in Zhejiang to Fuqing in Fujian. Zhejiang has raised its emergency response to Level 3, evacuating over 4,100 tourists from island resorts and suspending more than 90 passenger ferry routes due to gale-force winds. In Taizhou alone, all 18 ferry routes have been halted, along with 32 maritime construction projects.
Across Zhejiang, 146 offshore projects have been suspended, and 527 vessels relocated to safe waters.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Narra made its third landfall in Guangdong on Wednesday, bringing Force 6 winds before weakening. In Guangxi, the Beihai to Weizhou Island ferry route has been suspended, with 78 coastal projects shut down. The Qiongzhou Strait remains closed to roll-on/roll-off traffic, affecting ports in Hainan. Authorities have warned of potential flooding and secondary disasters in southern China. No direct impact on Malaysia is expected at this time.
Related: Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia)