Typhoon Podul, the 11th typhoon of the year, made landfall in China's Taiwan region on Wednesday afternoon, as coastal regions on the Chinese mainland are bracing for its expected impact later in the day. Warnings had earlier been issued across Taiwan as the typhoon approached, with China's National Meteorological Center recording peak wind speeds of 35 meters per second at its center, while some forecasts predicted it would later pack winds of up to 50 meters per second, classing it as a severe typhoon. After crossing Taiwan Island and entering the Taiwan Strait, Podul is expected to weaken and make a second landfall on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning along coastal areas of east China's Fujian and the southern Guangdong Province. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters activated emergency response measures for flood and typhoon prevention in Fujian and Guangdong on Tuesday afternoon, while China's Ministry of Natural Resources also launched emergency response protocol for geological disaster prevention and marine disaster response as the typhoon nears. The typhoon also forced the closure of numerous scenic areas and the temporary suspension of offshore construction projects and railway maintenance work in areas deemed at risk. Parks and scenic spots across the Taiwan region began closing on Tuesday, while many businesses such as restaurants also took precautionary measures such as erecting temporary barriers to protect from the strong winds. In Fujian, the majority of offshore construction projects have been suspended, while over 200 construction vessels were relocated to safe areas by 15:00 on Tuesday. Local maritime safety authorities in Fujian have also carried out inspections on ships docked at ports, urging them to prepare for the possible impact of the incoming storm. The imminent arrival of the typhoon is also set to impact on transportation, with ticket sales for some passenger trains and high-speed railways being suspended by the China Railway Nanchang Group and China Railway Guangzhou Group. SHOTLIST: Dongshan County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, east China - Aug 12, 2025 1. Various of vessels at sea, port, officer reporting on radio; vessel boarding area; Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, east China - Aug 12, 2025 2. Various of control room, staff, computer screens showing information about typhoon; 3. Various of staff checking safety of infrastructure of building, railway platform; Dongshan County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, east China - Aug 12, 2025 4. Empty security check zone at port; Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, east China - Aug 12, 2025 5. Various of passengers at railway station; Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, south China - Recent 6. Exterior of railway station; 7. Passengers on platform. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]