Southern China Prepares for Super Typhoon Yagi

Southern Chinese provinces brace for the powerful Super Typhoon Yagi, closing schools and delaying flights. The typhoon has intensified after hitting the northern Philippines and is set to make landfall along Hainan's coast. Authorities in Guangdong and Hainan elevate alert levels and suspend operations in various sectors.

Southern Chinese provinces and cities are bracing for the arrival of Super Typhoon Yagi, shutting schools, and postponing flights ahead of its expected landfall along Hainan's subtropical coast. The storm, which has more than doubled in strength after devastating northern Philippines, could be the most powerful to hit China in years.

Yagi, packing maximum sustained winds of 209 kph (130 mph) near its eye, is the world's second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024, trailing only the Category 5 Atlantic hurricane Beryl. Scientists link the increasing strength of typhoons to warmer oceans amid climate change. Just last week, Typhoon Shanshan struck southwestern Japan.

Strengthening into a super typhoon on Wednesday night, Yagi was about 500 km (300 miles) southeast of Zhanjiang, Guangdong, by Thursday afternoon. Authorities raised the typhoon alert to its highest level, expecting the storm to bring torrential rains to Guangdong and Hainan island at a speed of 10-15 kmh (6-9 mph). Coastal cities are preparing for landfall on Sept 6.

Operations for trains and boats in Hainan were suspended Thursday morning, while schools across southern China, including Hong Kong and Macau, were closed. Hong Kong plans to issue its third-highest typhoon signal, 8, on Thursday evening, impacting businesses and transport.

The Hong Kong weather observatory forecasted intense rain bands for the region, with heavy showers continuing into Friday. Several flights at Hong Kong's international airport have been canceled, and if signal 8 persists on Friday morning, the stock exchange will close.

Authorities in Guangdong province and Macau have both elevated their emergency response levels to the highest for strong winds. Macau will raise its typhoon signal Thursday evening, and the main bridge linking Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai will be closed.

All flights from Hainan's Haikou airport will be suspended from Thursday evening until Friday midnight. Beaches and coastal tourist attractions have also been closed. Yagi's projected landfall in Hainan is rare, with only nine super typhoons landing since records began in 1949. The typhoon claimed at least 13 lives in the Philippines earlier this week.

(With inputs from agencies.)