(Yicai) Sept. 7 -- The city of Putian, one of China’s main footwear manufacturing centers, is moving from flood response to post-disaster recovery after Typhoon Saudel brought torrential rains and widespread flooding to the south of the country.

As the heavy rainfall ended and skies cleared on Sept. 5, Putian shifted from flood control to recovery. The authorities have prioritized reopening roads, restoring water and electricity services, clearing mud and debris, and resettling affected residents. More than 3,000 people had been evacuated as of Sept. 4, with no deaths reported. Numerous shoe factories were flooded.

Located in Fujian province, the coastal city turned out 1.6 billion pairs of shoes last year, worth more than CNY100 billion (USD14.9 billion). Its 4,000-plus footwear-related companies employ over 500,000 people, and it ranked third globally for the number of Amazon sellers in 2024.

The rainfall brought by Typhoon Saudel was the most since province-wide records began in 1961, according to Fujian's meteorological agency. Putian and surrounding coastal areas were particularly hard hit. Twenty-two places across the urban part of Putian were waterlogged. As of 10 a.m. yesterday, all had drained, local officials said.

At one footwear maker, the floodwaters began rising on Sept. 3 and eventually exceeded two meters, China News Service reported. Despite advance preparations, materials stored below the third level of shelving were submerged, causing losses equivalent to about 30 percent of outstanding orders.

Molds, laminating machines, air compressors, and electrical distribution boxes were all soaked at another footwear manufacturer. The full extent of its losses and the impact on the supply chain have yet to become clear, as businesses clear away mud, check equipment, and calculate losses while working to restore production.

The tasks that lie ahead for the city include repairing municipal facilities, clearing drainage pipes and rebuilding damaged roads, stormwater networks, inspection chambers, and roadside embankments.

Editor: Martin Kadiev