Super Typhoon Yagi Batters Southern China with Devastating Winds and Rain

Super Typhoon Yagi slammed southern China with powerful gales and heavy rain, causing school shutdowns and flight cancellations. With winds of 245 km/h near its eye, Yagi is the second-most powerful cyclone this year. Hong Kong's stock exchange closed, and transport links shuttered across the region.

Super Typhoon Yagi unleashed powerful gales and heavy rain on southern China, leading to a second day of school closures and numerous flight cancellations. Local authorities were bracing for further chaos as one of Asia's strongest storms in 2024 was set to make landfall along Hainan's coast.

With sustained winds of 245 km per hour (152 mph) near its center, Yagi is the world's second-most powerful tropical cyclone this year, following Category 5 hurricane Beryl. The storm more than doubled in strength after ravaging northern Philippines earlier this week and is expected to make landfall from Wenchang in Hainan to Leizhou in Guangdong.

Intense weather conditions, including thunder and lightning, wreaked havoc on transport links. Numerous flights were cancelled, and the world's longest sea crossing—the bridge connecting Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai—was closed. In Hong Kong, the stock exchange and schools were shut, with the typhoon 8 signal in effect until noon Friday, significantly reducing business activity and transport services.

The storm's arrival prompted China's government to dispatch task forces to Guangdong and Hainan to aid in flood and typhoon prevention efforts. Super Typhoon Yagi's landfall in Hainan is unusual, as most typhoons hitting the island are weaker. Scientists attribute the rising strength of typhoons to warming oceans caused by climate change.

Named after the Japanese word for goat and the Capricornus constellation, Yagi reached super typhoon status on Wednesday night. Its impact mirrors the recent devastation caused by Typhoon Shanshan in Japan.

(With inputs from agencies.)