On October 19th, due to adverse sea conditions caused by cold air, ferry services between Mawei in Fuzhou and Matsu were suspended in both directions. The Fujian maritime authorities announced this evening that the “Little Three Links” passenger ferry route will remain canceled for travel on October 20th as well.
Additionally, the Fujian Marine Forecasting Center issued a blue wave warning on the same day, indicating that from the night of October 19th through the afternoon of October 20th, there will be significant wave activity in local fishing grounds. Specifically, waves of 3.5 to 5.0 meters are expected in the central and southern fishing areas, while the eastern fishing grounds and surrounding waters, including the Diaoyu Islands, will see waves ranging from 3.0 to 4.0 meters. Furthermore, the shoreline south of Pingtan is anticipated to experience waves of 2.0 to 3.0 meters, with those to the north reaching 1.5 to 2.5 meters.
As we move through October, Fujian is transitioning from its “typhoon season” to what is known as the “winter gale season.” The Fujian Meteorological Station warns that over the next week, cold air activity will be frequent, with northeastern winds reaching speeds of over force 8 in the coastal waters, necessitating caution for sectors such as shipping, coastal tourism, and fisheries due to these strong winds.
Currently, there is a marked increase in the movement of people between Fujian and Taiwan. Statistics show that in the first three quarters of this year, the number of Taiwanese entering Fujian from the province’s ports has reached 650,000, reflecting a 73.5% increase compared to the previous year.
