One of the strongest cyclones in years has hit land in southern China. Super Typhoon “Yagi” reached the island of Hainan and the neighboring mainland province of Guangdong with wind speeds of more than 230 kilometers per hour. It could be the most serious tropical storm in the region since 2014.
Even before the typhoon arrived, the authorities of the People’s Republic had called on hundreds of thousands of people to seek safety from “Yagi”. The Chinese central government sent task forces to the affected area.
Flood warning in holiday area
The island of Hainan, with its sandy beaches, is also a popular travel destination. Tourist attractions have been closed as a precaution and traffic has been restricted. A flood warning is in place for Hainan and Guangdong.
Precautionary measure: The employee of a cafe in Hainan reinforces doors and windows with adhesive tapeImage: Pu Xiaoxu/AP Photo/picture alliance
On Friday night, “Yagi” had already passed Hong Kong at a considerable distance and caused heavy rain in the Chinese financial metropolis. Schools and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange remained closed on Friday. According to the authorities, several people were injured, but overall the damage in Hong Kong was less than originally feared.
Great concern in Vietnam
In Vietnam, where the typhoon is expected on Saturday, 220,000 people in the northern provinces of Hai Phong and Thai Binh have been called to evacuate. Numerous soldiers and helpers have been deployed to respond quickly to the typhoon and its consequences. Operations at the airport in the capital Hanoi and other airports are to be suspended on Saturday.
Closure: The port of Hai Phong in Vietnam has also been closedImage: NHAC NGUYEN/AFP
The world-famous Halong Bay, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, could also be affected. The operators of boat tours for tourists suspended them for the weekend as a precautionary measure. The German Embassy in Hanoi warned of “life-threatening storm surges”, flooding and landslides. Holidaymakers in the country should be extremely cautious.
“Yagi” had already passed over the Philippines in recent days. At least 13 people were killed due to heavy rain, flooding and landslides.
