Southern China’s Hainan province has evacuated over 400,000 residents ahead of Super Typhoon Yagi’s expected landfall on Friday, while tens of thousands in neighboring Vietnam brace for the strongest storm to hit the region in over a decade. The storm, which has intensified into a super typhoon over the past few days, threatens both countries with devastating winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding.
Yagi, which claimed at least 13 lives in the Philippines earlier this week, brought floods and landslides to the island of Luzon before strengthening further. The storm is now packing winds exceeding 240 kilometers per hour, the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane, according to NASA Earth Data.
China on High Alert
Hainan, a popular tourist destination, and the neighboring Guangdong province are preparing for the typhoon’s full force, with the Chinese government elevating its emergency response to flooding in both regions. The Ministry of Water Resources has raised the alert to the third-highest tier, highlighting the gravity of the impending disaster. Xinhua News, the state-run agency, reported that Yagi could be the most powerful typhoon to strike China’s southern coast since 2014, making flood prevention efforts particularly challenging.
Hainan authorities have already evacuated over 400,000 people, with thousands more expected to follow in the coming hours. As residents flee their homes, preparations are underway to minimize damage and ensure the safety of those remaining. In Guangdong, flood and storm surge prevention measures are being rigorously enforced.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong, though spared from the storm’s direct path, was hit with heavy rain as Yagi passed within 400 kilometers of the city. Authorities suspended trading at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and day schools were closed. Despite the relatively limited damage, five people were injured, and the city experienced localized flooding. The typhoon warning was lifted in the afternoon as the storm continued its course toward mainland China.
Vietnam Braces for Impact
As Yagi moves past southern China, it is expected to slam into northern and central Vietnam, with landfall anticipated on Saturday. Local authorities in provinces like Hai Phong and Thai Binh are preparing for mass evacuations, aiming to relocate tens of thousands of people to safer areas. The Vietnamese government has mobilized over 457,000 military personnel in preparation for the storm’s arrival, along with directing 50,000 fishing vessels and 220,000 fishermen to seek shelter.
“This will be the strongest typhoon to hit northern Vietnam in 20 years,” said Pham Duc Luan, head of Vietnam’s dyke management authority. The storm is projected to hit near the famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay, further intensifying concerns about the scale of potential damage. Vietnam, like China, has a long history of dealing with typhoons, but Yagi’s strength and unpredictability have officials on high alert.
Climate Change Amplifies the Threat
Experts warn that climate change is playing a significant role in making tropical storms like Yagi more dangerous. Warmer ocean temperatures contribute to the storms’ increased intensity, leading to heavier rainfall, stronger winds, and more erratic paths. Southern China and Southeast Asia, which regularly endure typhoons from the Pacific, are seeing storms that are not only more powerful but also harder to predict.
“This is no longer the typical typhoon season we were used to 10 or 20 years ago,” says a meteorological expert from China’s flood control headquarters. “Storms like Yagi, driven by climate change, are becoming the new normal.”
Regional Response
Both China and Vietnam have ramped up their emergency preparedness to mitigate the damage from Yagi, but the challenge remains immense. The speed at which the storm has intensified has left little time for officials to react, and while evacuation efforts have been substantial, the coming hours will be crucial in determining the full impact of the super typhoon.
