Super Typhoon Yagi Hits Hainan, Forces Mass Evacuations in China and Vietnam

Super Typhoon Yagi: Super Typhoon Yagi made landfall on China’s Hainan Island, leading to the evacuation of over 400,000 people, state media reported. The storm, with sustained winds of 245 km/h (152 mph), hit the island’s Wenchang city at 4:20 PM local time on Friday. Hainan authorities have warned of severe flooding, with the typhoon expected to be the strongest to hit southern China since 2014.

Yagi had already caused 13 deaths in the Philippines and now threatens Vietnam, where tens of thousands are bracing for impact. Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority announced the closure of four northern airports, including Hanoi’s Noi Bai International, with the typhoon expected to reach the region by the weekend.

Transport links in southern China have been severely disrupted, with numerous flights cancelled in Hainan, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. The Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge, the world’s longest sea crossing, has also been closed as a precaution.

This rare event marks the ninth time a super typhoon has hit Hainan since 1949. Yagi follows in the destructive path of 2014’s Typhoon Rammasun, which claimed 88 lives. Authorities are mobilizing resources to deal with the aftermath, as Yagi is expected to bring heavy rains and flooding to northern Vietnam next.

The storm is predicted to strike near Vietnam’s Halong Bay, marking the strongest storm to hit the region in two decades. Over 457,000 military personnel and 50,000 fishing vessels have been mobilized in preparation for the storm’s impact.

Key Points: Super Typhoon Yagi Forces Mass Evacuations

1. Landfall in China: Super Typhoon Yagi made landfall in Hainan, China, with winds of 245 km/h, forcing over 400,000 people to evacuate.
2. Casualties in the Philippines: Yagi has already caused 13 deaths in the Philippines prior to hitting China.
3. Severe Disruptions: Major transport links, including flights in Hainan, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, have been disrupted; the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge has been closed.
4. Vietnam on High Alert: Tens of thousands in northern Vietnam are preparing for evacuation, with four major airports, including Hanoi’s, shut down ahead of the storm’s expected landfall.
5. Strongest Typhoon Since 2014: Yagi is the most powerful storm to hit southern China since Typhoon Rammasun in 2014.
6. Military Mobilization: Over 457,000 military personnel and 50,000 fishing vessels are on standby in Vietnam as the typhoon moves towards the region.
7. Historical Significance: Yagi is only the ninth super typhoon to hit Hainan since 1949.