Due to heavy rainfall, Apple iPhone production at Foxconn’s facility near Chennai, South India, has been halted, as confirmed by two informed individuals on Monday. Foxconn is currently undecided on resuming production on Tuesday. Concurrently, Pegatron has also ceased Apple iPhone manufacturing at their Chennai facilities due to the adverse weather conditions.
Two southern states are preparing for an imminent severe cyclone set to strike within the next 24 hours. Today, torrential downpours claimed the lives of at least two individuals, leading to the flooding of a runway at one of India’s busiest airports. India’s meteorological office forecasts that Cyclone Michaung is expected to reach the southern state of Andhra Pradesh’s coast tomorrow morning, bringing sustained winds of 90–100 kph (56–62 mph) and gusts reaching up to 110 kph.
C. Muthukumaran, the joint director of the state disaster management department, informed Reuters that in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu, a wall collapsed, resulting in the tragic deaths of two individuals. Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu and a significant hub for electronics and manufacturing, witnessed cars being swept away by floodwaters. Due to adverse weather conditions, the state’s busiest airport remained closed for the day.
As per a Reuters witness, numerous areas in the city were submerged in knee-deep water, coupled with multiple power outages since morning. A government advisory indicated that, owing to the weather conditions, four districts in TamilNadu, including Chennai, decided to shut down schools, colleges, offices, and banks on both Monday and Tuesday.
The Indian Meteorological Department forecasted an anticipated rainfall of over 200 millimeters (8 inches) in parts of Andhra Pradesh within the next day. Considering the trajectory and strength of the cyclone, authorities in Andhra Pradesh had already moved nearly 7,000 residents from eight coastal districts and were preparing to evacuate a total of 28,000 people, as confirmed by a senior official in the state’s disaster management department.
Bapatla, a coastal town in Andhra Pradesh anticipated to face the cyclone’s landfall on Tuesday, has witnessed the evacuation of a minimum of 800 residents, as reported by P Ranjit Basha, the district collector.
