Hainan, China — Super Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to batter southern China in a decade, pummeled the island of Hainan on Friday, unleashing winds of 223 km/h (138 mph) and torrential rains that prompted mass evacuations and widespread disruptions. The storm made landfall at 4:00 p.m. local time (09:00 BST) near Wenchang, in the island’s northeast, state media reported.
Yagi—the fiercest typhoon to strike Hainan since Typhoon Rammasun in 2014, which killed 46 people—has sparked fears of “catastrophic” damage. China’s weather agency confirmed it as the most powerful typhoon to make autumn landfall in the region.
Ahead of the storm’s arrival, authorities evacuated approximately 400,000 people from vulnerable areas on Hainan island. Transportation was brought to a standstill, with trains, boats, and flights suspended, while schools and tourist attractions were closed.
The super typhoon, which doubled in strength after wreaking havoc in the northern Philippines earlier in the week, is the second-strongest storm to hit the region this year. Meteorologists have warned of potentially devastating effects not just in Hainan, but also in neighboring Guangdong, China’s most populous province.
In a Thursday advisory, the Indo-Pacific Tropical Cyclone Warning Center described Yagi as “extremely dangerous and powerful,” forecasting “potentially catastrophic” landfall. Super typhoons, like Yagi, are equivalent to Category 5 hurricanes.
Widespread Disruptions and Power Outages
Following Yagi’s landfall, local reports indicated that widespread power outages affected approximately 830,000 households across Hainan. By Friday evening, emergency teams—comprising around 7,000 workers—had restored electricity to 260,000 homes.
Hainan’s famed tourist destinations, known for their white sand beaches, luxury hotels, and duty-free shopping, have been shuttered since Wednesday. Authorities issued stern warnings about the “massive and destructive winds” accompanying the storm.
Further disruptions were felt on the mainland, where the world’s longest sea bridge, connecting Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai in Guangdong, was closed as a precaution. Yagi made a second landfall in Guangdong late Friday, with winds still exceeding 200 km/h.
Heavy Rainfall and Gales Expected
Parts of southern China have been grappling with heavy rainfall and strong gales since Thursday. China’s weather bureau expects rainfall totals to reach up to 500 mm in some areas, worsening the risk of floods and landslides.
Hainan has a long history of enduring typhoons, but Yagi’s strength is atypical. According to Reuters, only nine of the 106 typhoons recorded in Hainan since 1949 have been classified as super typhoons. Chinese authorities have warned that Yagi could be the most powerful storm to hit the region in a decade.
Wider Impacts Felt in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, trading at the city’s stock exchange was suspended, and schools were closed as the storm neared. While five people were reported injured due to extreme weather, authorities indicated that overall damage in the city remained limited.
As southern China braces for the storm’s aftermath, officials continue to monitor the situation closely, warning of further flooding and potential infrastructure damage in the days ahead.
