Super Typhoon Yagi Makes Landfall, Bringing Destruction and Disruptions
Super Typhoon Yagi, Asia’s most powerful storm this year, made landfall in China‘s Hainan province on Friday. The storm brought fierce winds and heavy rainfall, forcing the closure of schools for a second day and causing widespread flight cancellations across the South China Sea region.
Unprecedented Power
With maximum sustained winds of 234 km/h (145 mph), Yagi ranks as the second-most powerful tropical cyclone globally in 2024, following Atlantic Hurricane Beryl. It is the strongest storm in the Pacific basin this year.
Widespread Damage
Yagi, which had more than doubled in intensity after killing 16 people in the northern Philippines earlier this week, hit the city of Wenchang on Hainan Island, causing significant damage and disruption.
Regional Impact
The storm forced closures of schools, businesses, and transportation services in Hong Kong, Macau, Hainan, and Guangdong. Airports in Vietnam, where Yagi is expected to hit over the weekend, also cancelled flights. Laos is also on alert for the typhoon’s impact.
Precautionary Measures
In Hong Kong, schools remained closed, and the stock exchange was shut down as a safety precaution. By Friday, the city’s airport had resumed normal operations after 50 flights were cancelled on Thursday.
A Rare and Powerful Storm
Yagi is the most severe storm to hit Hainan since Typhoon Rammasun in 2014, which killed 88 people and caused over 44 billion yuan ($6.25 billion) in damage across Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan.
Also Read: Typhoon Ampil Grounds Flights And Forces Evacuations Across Japan
Climate Change and Intensifying Typhoons
Scientists warn that climate change, fueled by warming oceans, is making typhoons stronger. Just last week, Typhoon Shanshan struck southwestern Japan, marking one of the strongest storms to hit the country in decades.
