China braces for super typhoon yagi with mass evacuation
Due to the approaching Typhoon Yagi, a massive evacuation on Hainan Island in China has been underway. 400,000 people have been evacuated because the wind could reach up to 250 kilometres per hour (km/h). According to some, Yagi might be the most powerful cyclone in the world in 2024, surpassing even Beryl, which struck the Caribbean islands in July.
Typhoon Yagi was initially classified as a tropical storm. However, its passage had catastrophic consequences. In the Philippines, 13 people lost their lives due to the storm, and there were also significant material losses.
However, this is not the end, as Yagi evolved and became a super typhoon. In China, anxiety is growing over the arrival of this powerful cyclone. Special measures, including evacuation, were necessary.
Yagi approaches China. Evacuation on the island
According to the Xinhua news agency, Typhoon Yagi is expected to reach Hainan Island and Guangdong province by Friday evening, Greenwich Time. Authorities have declared the third-highest flood alert level. On Hainan Island, hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated.
Due to the approaching super typhoon Yagi by 3:30 AM GMT, the Hainan province in southern China had evacuated 419,367 residents, reported the Chinese agency.
This is not the only action taken in response to the impending disaster. Authorities decided to suspend flights, close schools, and halt stock market trading. Additionally, residents were urged to exercise exceptional caution. Nearly half a million soldiers were put on high alert.
Typhoon Yagi - the most powerful in years
According to some media, Typhoon Yagi is the most powerful storm to hit China in 10 years. The wind can reach speeds of up to 250 km/h. Some believe that Yagi will even surpass Hurricane Beryl, which devastated the Caribbean islands at the beginning of July this year. The wind then reached speeds of up to 265 km/h.
After the cyclone hits the Chinese coast, it is expected to head towards Vietnam and the popular Ha Long Bay, which is on the UNESCO list. Authorities have already made initial decisions to close airports there. The first recordings showing the situation on Hainan Island are already appearing online.
The occurrence of typhoons at this time of year is not unusual. They most often appear in August or September. The largest typhoon in history appeared in the Pacific in 1979. It was named Tip. It had a diameter of 2,200 kilometres, which corresponds to the distance between Warsaw and Madrid. As a result of its passage, 86 people died on the Japanese island of Honshu.
