How Strong Was Typhoon Lekima, Really?

Lekima, with its strongest winds reaching above category 17, is the strongest typhoon in the Northwest Pacific this year, including China which we’ve just recently reported in a previous article. Click to read more: Weekend Ruined! Strong Typhoon Lekima Is About to Hit China

Lekima, the ninth typhoon of this year, landed around 1:45 a.m. Saturday in Zhejiang, bringing heavy rainstorms and triggering flash floods. 

According to the local authorities, a total of 30 people died and 18 remain missing as of Sunday noon. 

It is expected to make a second landing along the coastline in Shandong late Sunday.

But how “strong” was Lekima, really?

Here are a few GIFs so you can better visualize it.

Dongtou, Wenzhou

Shitang town, Wenling

Zhoushan City, Zhejiang

Video:

Lots of people searched for videos of journalists on Weibo… Here’s why:

Shanghai weather anchor

before

and after

Zhejiang's reporter could not stand still:

Reporter:

"Waves can hit you like this!

For the first time, I felt a little overwhelmed with my 90kg!"

A reporter went viral.

Reporting from the historical Bund in Shanghai, he reported feeling a bit shaky at first in the midst of the typhoon’ wrath…

But given his size, he said, it would take a category stronger than 12 to physically blow him away!

The reporter laughed at himself:

“I’m the only one on the Bund here today, which is really rare!

Back in 2014, one typhoon was so strong that a reporter had to hang on to a tree tightly so he wouldn’t get swept away.

Watch this video to feel how much dedication to his job:

Speaking of dedication, a Pakistani journalist once stood in the water following a huge flood.

After seeing all these, I can’t feel anything but genuine respect for these front-line journalists, who work hard and put their own lives in danger to show us what’s happening in real-time.

Besides, thanks to Chinese soldiers and firefighters who are working hard to rebuild the damaged facility. 

Photo credit: 中国消防

Thanks to everyone involved in the rescue and restoration operations, homes are still homes after the floods.

Photo credit: 中国消防

While we’re on the topic, we would like to remind us that typhoons are apt to whip up huge waves. Stay away from the beach! Be safe.

 Source: CCTV/ Xinhua

Editor: Crystal Huang

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