Impact Area

A major tourist island located south of mainland China, Hainan, has been struck by the strongest typhoon in a decade, bringing with it devastating winds and heavy rain. Super Typhoon Yagi hit the island’s city of Wenchang, located in the northeast, on Friday afternoon at 16:00 local time (09:00 BST). Winds reached a staggering 223 kilometers per hour (138 miles per hour), as reported by state media. This powerful storm is the most severe to impact Hainan since Typhoon Rammasun in 2014, which tragically left 46 people dead. The China Meteorological Administration confirmed that Yagi is the most powerful typhoon to make landfall in the region during the autumn season.

In anticipation of the storm, authorities took extensive precautions. Around 400,000 people were evacuated to safety before Yagi’s arrival, ensuring the protection of residents from the storm’s dangers. Additionally, transportation services such as trains, boats, and flights were halted, and schools were closed across the island. The government’s swift action helped mitigate the potential harm caused by the approaching typhoon.

Development Monitoring

Yagi gained strength rapidly, doubling in intensity after causing destruction in the northern Philippines earlier in the week. The typhoon is the second most powerful storm of the year so far, and meteorologists have issued warnings of possible catastrophic damage to Hainan and neighboring Guangdong, China’s most populous province. The Indo-Pacific Tropical Cyclone Warning Center issued an advisory on Thursday, stating that Yagi is an “extremely dangerous and powerful” super typhoon, and it could lead to a “potentially catastrophic” impact on land. Super typhoons are comparable to Category 5 hurricanes, the most intense storms on the scale, known for their extreme winds and heavy rainfall.

As a precaution, all tourist attractions on Hainan Island were shut down by Wednesday, following an official order from the authorities. Visitors and residents were warned about the impending “massive and destructive winds” as Yagi approached. Hainan, known for its beautiful white-sand beaches, luxurious hotels, and duty-free shops, is often referred to as “China’s Hawaii” due to its tropical climate and popularity as a vacation spot. The island, however, is not new to typhoons, although only nine out of the 106 typhoons that have landed there since 1949 have been classified as super typhoons.

 

Adding to the storm’s widespread impact, the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge, which links Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai in Guangdong, was closed for safety reasons. The region experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds beginning on Thursday, and China’s weather authorities forecast rainfall to reach as high as 500mm in some areas. While Hainan often faces typhoons, Yagi is predicted to be the most powerful storm to strike China’s southern coastline in a decade, according to Chinese authorities.

Beyond China, Yagi is expected to make its way towards northern Vietnam on Saturday, although it will have weakened by then. Vietnamese officials are taking the storm seriously, preparing for possible severe impacts. Tens of thousands of people in the northern provinces of Hai Phong and Thai Binh are being evacuated to safer areas.

According to AFP news agency, the evacuations were set to be completed by the end of Friday. In addition to civilian preparations, Vietnam’s military has mobilized approximately 460,000 officers to assist in managing the storm’s aftermath, as reported by Vietnamese media. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Vietnam’s deputy agriculture minister, has warned that Yagi could affect key areas that are vital to the region’s socio-economic development. He emphasized that any carelessness in dealing with the storm could result in catastrophic damage.

To further ensure safety, Vietnam’s civil aviation authority announced the closure of four airports in the country’s northern region, including Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport. These airports are scheduled to shut down on Saturday as a precautionary measure. Yagi’s destructive path has already brought tragedy to the northern Philippines earlier in the week, where floods and landslides caused by the storm claimed at least 13 lives and forced thousands to evacuate.

As Yagi continues to wreak havoc, scientists point out that typhoons and hurricanes are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change. Warmer ocean temperatures fuel storms, giving them more energy, which leads to stronger winds. Additionally, a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, which can result in heavier and more intense rainfall. These factors contribute to the growing strength and destructiveness of storms like Yagi.

Yagi’s Landfall

Typhoon Yagi’s landfall on Hainan Island, a popular tropical vacation destination in China, marks a significant event. The storm hit the island on the afternoon of Friday, September 6, following a path that swept just south of Hong Kong. The powerful winds and rain forced many people to flee their homes in search of safer areas. The Chinese national meteorological authorities have labeled Yagi the strongest typhoon to hit China during the autumn season in many years, with far-reaching impacts expected both in China and Vietnam.

While the immediate concern is the safety of the affected populations, the long-term effects of these storms on infrastructure and economies are significant. As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change, it is expected that storms like Yagi will continue to pose severe threats to coastal regions. Governments and communities will need to adapt to these changing conditions and improve their preparedness for future storms. For now, the focus remains on minimizing the damage and helping those affected by Yagi to recover and rebuild their lives.

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