Southern cities in China have suspended schools and canceled flights as tropical storm Yagi intensified into a super typhoon, heading directly for Hainan province.
The storm has already caused significant damage in the Philippines, triggering floods and landslides on Luzon and resulting in at least 13 fatalities.
Yagi, now packing winds of up to 209 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour), is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon, potentially affecting Hainan or neighboring Guangdong. The provincial disaster management authority upgraded Hainan’s emergency response to the highest level as of 11:30 AM on Thursday.
In Haikou, the capital of Hainan, work, school, and local transport services were suspended from Thursday noon (0400 GMT). Although Hong Kong is expected to be bypassed by Yagi, the city’s weather observatory announced plans to issue the third-highest typhoon warning, limiting public transport and leading to the suspension of classes at kindergartens and special schools.
Several airlines in Hong Kong, including budget airline Hong Kong Express, have rescheduled or canceled flights due to the impending storm. Yagi is predicted to remain a super typhoon as it skirts approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) southwest of Hong Kong.
After impacting southern China, Yagi is projected to move towards Vietnam, with warnings issued for the northern and north-central regions, including the UNESCO heritage site of Halong Bay. Vietnam’s meteorological agency has mobilized over 2,700 military personnel for storm response, and coastal provinces are preparing for a sailing ban on Friday, while mountainous areas have been ordered to ready rescue vehicles.
— AFP
