Cities in southern China took precautionary measures on Thursday, suspending schools and canceling several flights as typhoon Yagi intensified and moved towards the island of Hainan. What began as a tropical storm quickly developed into a super typhoon, causing widespread concern across the region. Yagi’s strength increased as it crossed the South China Sea, posing a significant threat to the southern parts of China and neighboring areas.
Earlier in the week, typhoon Yagi had already wreaked havoc in the Philippines. On the main island of Luzon, the storm triggered severe floods and landslides, leaving at least 13 people dead, according to official reports. The damage in the Philippines provided a grim warning of the destruction the storm could bring to other countries in its path.
As typhoon Yagi gained momentum, Chinese authorities began to prepare. The Xinhua news agency reported that Yagi was now packing winds as strong as 209 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour), making it a formidable super typhoon. The storm was expected to make landfall by Friday afternoon, either on the island of Hainan or in the neighboring province of Guangdong. In response to the escalating threat, the local government in Hainan raised its emergency response level to the highest category, signaling the seriousness of the situation.
In anticipation of the storm, various services were shut down in Hainan’s capital, Haikou. Schools, workplaces, and local transportation services were suspended starting from midday on Thursday. These steps were taken to ensure the safety of residents and minimize potential injuries or fatalities from the approaching typhoon.
Hong Kong, while not directly in the storm’s path, was also preparing for the impact of typhoon Yagi. Although the super typhoon was expected to pass 300 kilometers (186 miles) southwest of the city, its effects were still anticipated to disrupt daily life. The Hong Kong weather observatory issued a high-level typhoon warning, which limited public transport and caused disruptions in the bustling finance hub. As a result, kindergartens and special schools in Hong Kong were closed for the day, and airlines began to adjust their schedules in light of the bad weather. Hong Kong Express rescheduled six flights, while Greater Bay Airlines canceled four flights and adjusted two others.
In southern China, the Pearl River Estuary region was preparing to feel the effects of typhoon Yagi’s gale-force winds. The storm was predicted to hit the area later on Thursday night and continue into Friday morning, adding further disruption to coastal cities. The strength and speed of Yagi made it clear that the authorities had to act quickly to mitigate damage.
Beyond China, the storm’s path continued towards Vietnam, where the government was taking no chances. The northern and north-central regions of the country, home to important cultural and natural landmarks such as Halong Bay, braced for the worst. Vietnam’s meteorological agency issued its own storm warnings and called on local authorities to implement safety measures. In preparation for the typhoon, the Vietnamese government mobilized over 2,700 military personnel to help with storm responses. Coastal provinces were set to enforce a sailing ban on Friday to prevent fishing boats and other vessels from encountering dangerous seas. Mountainous regions were also alerted, with instructions to have rescue vehicles on standby in case of landslides or other disasters triggered by heavy rainfall from typhoon Yagi.
As Yagi continued to track westward, concerns over its intensity and potential impact mounted. With both China and Vietnam taking extensive precautions, the priority remained on protecting lives and minimizing the storm’s destructive power. The legacy of previous typhoons in the region had shown how dangerous these natural phenomena could be, and officials were leaving nothing to chance in preparing for Yagi’s arrival.
typhoon Yagi brought much of southern China and parts of Southeast Asia to a standstill as cities closed schools, canceled flights, and enforced emergency measures. With strong winds and heavy rains predicted, both China and Vietnam geared up to face the storm head-on, doing everything possible to mitigate the potential damage. As Yagi’s path moved closer to land, the storm continued to serve as a reminder of the unpredictable power of nature.