Super Typhoon Yagi made landfall in China’s Hainan on Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that caused power outages on the tourist island province. With maximum sustained winds of 234kmh, Yagi ranks as the second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024. It had intensified rapidly since causing fatalities in the Philippines earlier in the week, hitting Wenchang in Hainan with force.
The storm led to power outages affecting 830,000 households in Hainan shortly after its arrival. A 7,000-member emergency team was mobilized by the provincial power supply department to restore power as soon as conditions allowed. By Friday night, power had been restored to 260,000 households. Prior to Yagi’s arrival, flights and ferries were cancelled, businesses were closed, and residents were advised to stay indoors to stay safe.
Before reaching China, Yagi had already disrupted daily life in Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong province, as well as airports in Vietnam. Predictions suggest Laos will feel its impact in the coming days. The severe weather conditions have led to school and business closures, transportation disruptions, and flight cancellations. The effects of the typhoon are being felt across the region, with residents and authorities taking precautions to minimize damage and ensure safety.
The rapid strengthening of Yagi into a powerful storm caught many by surprise, with its intense winds causing havoc upon landfall. The emergency response teams in Hainan quickly mobilized to address the power outages and restore service to affected households. The devastation caused by Yagi serves as a reminder of the destructive power of natural disasters and the importance of disaster preparedness and response mechanisms in vulnerable regions.
Despite the destructive force of Super Typhoon Yagi, efforts are already underway to help affected areas recover and rebuild. The resilience of communities facing the aftermath of the storm will be tested as they work to restore normalcy in their daily lives. As the storm continues its path through the region, it is essential for authorities and residents to remain vigilant and prepared for any further impacts that may be caused by the powerful weather system.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 234kmh near its centre, Yagi registers as the world’s second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024 so far, after the Category 5 Atlantic hurricane Beryl, and the most severe in the Pacific basin this year. After more than doubling in strength since killing 16 people in the northern Philippines earlier this week, Yagi slammed into the city of Wenchang in Hainan on Friday afternoon. A little more than an hour after Yagi’s arrival, Hainan saw power outages that affected 830,000 households in the province, the official news agency Xinhua said. The provincial power supply department had put together a 7,000-member emergency team that would embark on repairs as soon as conditions permitted, Xinhua added. By Friday night, power to 260,000 households had been restored. Ahead of Yagi’s arrival, the island known for its sandy beaches and glitzy hotels had cancelled flights and ferries, shuttered businesses, and told its population of more than 10 million to refrain from going out. The typhoon had already shut schools, businesses and transport links in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province as well as airports in Vietnam, which it is predicted to hit, along with Laos, over the weekend.
