Shanghai Prepares for Historic Rains as Typhoon Kong-rey Approaches

Shanghai braces for severe rains not seen in over 40 years as Typhoon Kong-rey approaches. Train suspensions and warnings have been issued. Expected to hit Taiwan first as a category 4 storm, the typhoon is set to bring extreme weather to China's eastern coast.

Shanghai, China's financial hub, is on high alert for rains not witnessed in the past four decades as Typhoon Kong-rey nears from the south. In anticipation of its impact, the city's railway operator has suspended certain high-speed trains from Thursday to Friday. Authorities are closely monitoring the typhoon's trajectory for necessary schedule adjustments.

In preparation for what is forecasted as extreme wet weather, authorities have advised residents to stock up on essential supplies such as drinking water and food. Kong-rey, expected to make landfall in Taiwan as a category 4 typhoon on Thursday, is anticipated to be the largest storm to hit the island in 30 years, bringing with it heavy rains and strong winds.

The powerful typhoon is projected to cross southern Taiwan into the Taiwan Strait before moving towards China. The Western Pacific basin has already suffered from major cyclones this year, claiming over 1,000 lives in East Asia. With northeastern movement towards China, Kong-rey threatens to combine with cold air masses to unleash even more extreme weather conditions.

(With inputs from agencies.)