Typhoon Yagi prompts massive evacuation in China with 155 mph winds
A massive evacuation is underway on Hainan Island in China due to the approaching Typhoon Yagi. So far, 400,000 people have been evacuated. The winds are predicted to reach up to 155 mph. Some experts suggest that Yagi might be the most powerful hurricane in the world in 2024, potentially surpassing Beryl, which hit the Caribbean islands in July.
Typhoon Yagi was initially classified as a tropical storm. However, its passage has had catastrophic consequences. In the Philippines, 13 people have died due to the storm, and there have been significant material losses as well.
This is not the end, as Yagi has evolved into a super typhoon. In China, anxiety is growing over the arrival of this powerful cyclone, and special measures, including evacuation, have been 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 Eastern Time. Authorities have declared the third-highest flood alert level. On Hainan Island, the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people has been announced.
The southern Chinese province of Hainan had relocated 419,367 residents as of 11:30 a.m. on Friday with super typhoon Yagi approaching, reported the Chinese agency.
This is not the only action taken in response to the impending disaster. Authorities have suspended flights, closed schools, and halted stock market trading. Additionally, residents were urged to exercise exceptional caution. Nearly half a million soldiers have been put on high alert.
Typhoon Yagi - the most powerful in years
According to some media reports, Typhoon Yagi is the most powerful storm of its kind to hit China in 10 years. The winds can reach speeds of up to 155 mph. Some believe that Yagi will even surpass Hurricane Beryl, which devastated the Caribbean islands at the beginning of July this year when the winds reached up to 165 mph.
After the hurricane hits the Chinese coast, it is expected to head towards Vietnam and the famous Ha Long Bay, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Authorities have already begun making initial decisions to close airports there. The first video 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, named Tip, appeared in the Pacific in 1979. It had a diameter of 1,367 miles, which corresponds to the distance between New York and Dallas. As a result of its passage, 86 people died on the Japanese island of Honshu.
