Super Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit southern China in a decade, made landfall in Hainan province on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 16:20 local time (10:20 GMT). With wind speeds exceeding 234 km/h (145 mph), Yagi is the second most powerful tropical cyclone in the world in 2024, after Atlantic hurricane Beryl.The storm has forced the evacuation of nearly one million people, with approximately 420,000 residents relocated from Hainan and over 570,000 from neighboring Guangdong province. Chinese authorities have raised emergency alert levels and dispatched task forces to guide flood prevention efforts.Yagi has caused widespread disruptions across the region. In Hong Kong, schools have been closed for a second day, flights have been canceled, and the stock exchange has suspended operations under a T8 alert, the third-highest warning level. Similar measures have been taken in Macau and parts of Guangdong province.The storm has already had deadly consequences, with at least 13 fatalities reported in the Philippines earlier in the week. As Yagi moves towards Vietnam, authorities there are bracing for impact, expected on Saturday. Vietnamese officials plan to evacuate tens of thousands of people from northern and central regions, including the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay.Pham Duc Luan, head of Vietnam’s dyke management authority, stated, ‘This will be the strongest typhoon to hit northern Vietnam in 20 years’. In preparation, Vietnam has mobilized over 457,000 military personnel for relief and rescue efforts, and four northern airports, including Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, will be closed on Saturday.Scientists attribute the increasing intensity of tropical storms like Yagi to climate change and warming oceans. ‘It is relatively rare for a super typhoon to make landfall in Hainan,’ noted one scientist, adding, ‘However, with warmer oceans, we can expect more intense storms in the future’.
Key points
- Super Typhoon Yagi made landfall in Hainan, China, with wind speeds exceeding 234 km/h.
- Nearly one million people have been evacuated from Hainan and Guangdong provinces.
- Vietnam is preparing for Yagi’s arrival on Saturday, mobilizing over 457,000 military personnel.
- Scientists link the increasing intensity of storms like Yagi to climate change and warming oceans.
