A powerful typhoon, named Yagi, made landfall on the Chinese tropical vacation island of Hainan, causing disruptions and displacements in the region. The typhoon, with winds reaching up to 152 mph near its center, hit Wenchang city in Hainan province before moving towards other parts of the island and eventually heading to the Beibu Gulf.
China's national meteorological authorities reported that Yagi is the strongest autumn typhoon to have landed in China and is expected to make a second landfall in Guangdong province. Prior to the landfall, around 420,000 residents were relocated in Hainan, with over half a million people in Guangdong also being moved to safer locations.
The storm brought heavy rain, power outages, and strong winds to Hainan, leading to precautionary measures such as building sandbag barriers and reinforcing windows with tape. Classes, work, transportation, and businesses were suspended in affected areas, with tourist attractions closed and flights grounded at airports.
In Hong Kong, where the typhoon signal was raised to No. 8, trading on the stock market, bank services, and schools were halted. The storm forced evacuations, sheltering of individuals, flight cancellations, and caused injuries and damage due to heavy rain and strong winds.
Yagi originated as a tropical storm in the Philippines before moving into the South China Sea, resulting in casualties, displacements, and disruptions in the northwestern Philippines. The storm left a trail of destruction, with landslides, flooding, and affecting millions of people in the region.
As Yagi continues its path towards northern Vietnam, authorities in the affected regions are on high alert, implementing emergency response measures to mitigate the impact of the typhoon. The aftermath of the storm in both China and the Philippines underscores the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of natural disasters.
