The tropical storm ‘Yagi’ has intensified into a super typhoon, impacting the island province of Hainan and prompting the suspension of schools and flights in southern Chinese cities on Thursday.
According to official reports, Yagi has already caused significant destruction earlier this week in the Philippines, where flooding and landslides on Luzon Island claimed at least 13 lives.
As Yagi moved across the South China Sea and headed toward Hainan, wind speeds reached up to 209 kilometers per hour. Provincial disaster management officials in Hainan upgraded their emergency response to the highest level, with the storm expected to make landfall in either Hainan or neighboring Guangdong on Friday afternoon.
In response to the approaching typhoon, schools and local transportation services were suspended in Hainan’s capital, Haikou, on Thursday. Although Hong Kong is not expected to be directly impacted, the Hong Kong Observatory issued its third-highest typhoon warning. Kindergartens and special schools were also suspended in the city, while budget airline Hong Kong Express rescheduled six flights, and Greater Bay Airlines canceled four flights with two more being rescheduled.
The Hong Kong Observatory forecasted that the super typhoon would remain about 300 kilometers southwest of the city on Friday morning, maintaining its strength. The storm is also expected to affect areas around the Pearl River Estuary with heavy rain and winds Thursday night into Friday morning.
Following its impact on southern China, Yagi is expected to move towards Vietnam, where it is forecasted to hit northern and north-central regions near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. Vietnam’s Meteorological Agency has issued storm warnings, and the government has mobilized military personnel to prepare for the typhoon’s arrival.
