Train Services Halted as Typhoon Maria Hits East China

Affected by super typhoon Maria, high-speed trains bound for East China’s Zhejiang province are suspended on Wednesday, rail authorities said today.

Train services halted are G7670/1 and G7576/7 from Cangnan, G7158/5 from Lu’an, G7685/8/5 from Huainan, according to railway stations in Hefei, capital of East China’s Anhui province.

In addition, G7664/1 from Hefei South Railway Station to Cangnan Railway Station cuts short its journey and stops at Hangzhou East Railway Station at 7:05 pm. Likewise, G7648/5 from Hefei Railway Station to Cangnan Railway Station wraps up its trip at Wenzhou South Railway Station at 1:44 pm.

Passengers who have bought tickets for the affected services can change their dates or apply for refunds, railway authorities said.

China's meteorological authority issued its first red alert of the year for a typhoon on Tuesday morning, with super typhoon Maria expected to hit East China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces with heavy rains and powerful winds on Wednesday.

Maria, the eighth typhoon this year, made landfall at around 9:10 am Wednesday in Lianjiang County, Fujian province, bringing gales of up to 42 meters per second at its eye, according to local meteorological authorities.