Super Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm in Asia this year, made landfall in China’s Hainan province on Friday, causing widespread power outages and prompting a million people to evacuate from their homes. The typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 234km/h, was the second most powerful tropical cyclone globally in 2024. It had doubled in strength since hitting the Philippines earlier in the week, resulting in 16 fatalities.
Upon hitting Hainan, Yagi caused power outages for 830,000 households, with efforts being made to restore electricity. The island had cancelled flights, closed businesses, and advised residents to stay indoors. The typhoon also impacted Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong, and Vietnam, forcing evacuations and disrupting transportation and daily life.
Yagi made a second landfall in Guangdong, moving towards Vietnam, while causing minimal damage in Hainan. Despite the destruction of infrastructure, there have been no reported fatalities on the island. The storm’s intensity is attributed to warmer oceans due to climate change, as noted by scientists.
This event is reminiscent of Typhoon Rammasun in 2014, which caused significant damage and casualties in the region. As typhoons continue to intensify and pose a threat to vulnerable areas, it is crucial for authorities to prioritize disaster preparedness and response to mitigate the impact of such extreme weather events.
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