Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China’s coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon

BEIJING (AP) — Typhoon Kong-rey weakened to a tropical storm overnight and was forecast to bring heavy rain and high winds to Shanghai and other parts of China’s east coast Friday.

The storm crossed Taiwan at typhoon strength on Thursday, bringing down trees and causing landslides that covered roads and damaged houses. Two people died and more than 500 others were injured.

Authorities in Taiwan’s east coast province of Hualien said they had restored contact with a Czech couple feared missing. The two had pitched a tent in Taroko National Park and were in good condition, according to the official Central News Agency.

Kong-rey, which is a Cambodian name, was heading northeast along the Chinese coast and could make landfall Friday afternoon in Zhejiang province before veering back out to sea, the National Meteorological Center said.

The passing storm is expected to affect Shanghai and parts of Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, with torrential rain of 10 to 12 centimeters (4 to 5 inches) possible in some areas.

Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
People walk past an area destroyed by the wind from Typhoon Kong-rey in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

Zhejiang and neighboring Fujian province suspended multiple ferry routes ahead of the approaching storm.

In Taiwan, light rain fell Friday morning in the capital Taipei, while island-wide, schools and offices had largely reopened and public services were mostly restored.

The typhoon passed north of the Philippines earlier in the week, prompting fresh evacuations just days after devastating Tropical Storm Trami killed at least 145 people the previous week.

Intense rainfall caused in part by Trami also killed seven people in China’s Hainan province as the storm passed by the island, which is known for its beach resorts, off the country’s southern coast.

Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
A woman looks at a row of blown roofs destroyed by the wind of Typhoon Kong-rey in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
A man takes a photo of a car crushed by a fallen tree destroyed by the wind of Typhoon Kong-rey in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
A woman looks at a row of blown roofs destroyed by the wind of Typhoon Kong-rey in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
A motorcyclist drives past a row of upside down motorbikes after Typhoon Kong-rey leaves in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
A mother and a son walk past an upside down motorbike after Typhoon Kong-rey leaves in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
Sanitation workers of Taipei city government clear debris in the aftermath of Typhoon Kong-rey in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
A man takes a photo of a car crushed by a fallen tree destroyed by the wind of Typhoon Kong-rey in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
A woman clears debris in the aftermath of Typhoon Kong-rey in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
Two car owners look at their car smashed by a row of blown roofs due to the wind of Typhoon Kong-rey in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Tropical Storm Kong-rey threatens Shanghai and China's coast after hitting Taiwan as a typhoon | iNFOnews.ca
A sanitation worker of Taipei city government puts up a cordon at an area destroyed by the wind from Typhoon Kong-rey in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

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