Typhoon Wutip strikes Hainan, Guangdong

Typhoon Wutip has paralyzed transportation and forced the temporary closure of coastal scenic spots in major cities in Hainan and Guangdong provinces ahead of its expected landfall on Thursday night.

Ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait were suspended from 11 am on Thursday, temporarily cutting off marine connections between Hainan, China's second-largest island, and the mainland, according to authorities.

China Railway Guangzhou Group has adjusted or suspended operations for some trains running along Guangdong's western coast, affecting the cities of Maoming, Zhanjiang and Yangjiang, as well as major cities and counties in Hainan.

In Hainan, the high-speed train service from Sanya to Haikou was suspended at noon on Thursday, forcing many passengers to cancel or alter their travel plans.

Dong Zeyang, a business traveler from Haikou to Sanya, said he had to find a hotel for the night and rearrange his work schedule due to the suspension. "I wasn't the only one stranded in Sanya," Dong said. "Many others had to change their travel plans due to the disruption."

By 4 pm on Thursday, Sanya Phoenix International Airport had canceled 77 flights — 55 arrivals and 22 departures — and delayed 23 others.

Meanwhile, Hainan's two other major international airports — Meilan in Haikou and Boao in Qionghai — have activated emergency plans and introduced safety measures to ensure smooth and orderly operations.

Multiple cities and counties on the island issued emergency school suspension notices on Thursday.

In Zhanjiang, all the schools and kindergartens suspended classes starting Thursday noon because of Wutip.

More rain expected

Guangdong's provincial water conservancy department launched a Level IV anti-typhoon emergency response on Thursday, urging cities and departments in potentially affected areas to prioritize the protection of lives and property.

The province is forecast to experience heavy rainfall, including rainstorms and extremely heavy downpours, from Friday to Sunday, with water levels expected to rise between 2 and 6 meters in major rivers and tributaries, the department said. Emergency working groups were dispatched to Zhanjiang, Yunfu, Maoming and Zhaoqing to assist with disaster prevention and relief efforts.

In Guangzhou, the provincial capital, a white typhoon warning was issued after heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday.

Chen Guangzhou, an office worker in the city's Tianhe district, said he was caught in the downpour while returning home after dinner with friends on Wednesday night.

"The rain came so suddenly that I was completely caught off guard and got soaked," he said.

Authorities have ordered the temporary closure of all coastal scenic areas west of the Pearl River estuary in Guangdong to ensure tourist safety.

All fishing boats have been recalled to shelters, marine tourism activities have been suspended, and ferry services to outlying islands halted, officials said.

In Hainan, agricultural and rural affairs departments are helping farmers implement protective measures to prevent casualties and minimize economic losses. More than 30,500 fishing boats have returned to shelters.

Hainan Power Grid, a subsidiary of China Southern Power Grid, has dispatched emergency repair teams and is conducting inspections to remove potential safety hazards.

Wutip, the first typhoon to strike China's coast this year, was moving northwest at a speed of 10 to 15 kilometers per hour as of Thursday night, gradually intensifying as it approached Hainan's southern coast.

The typhoon is expected to make initial landfall between Lingshui and Ledong in Hainan, bringing heavy rain and strong gales. It is forecast to make a second landfall on Saturday between Guangdong's Leizhou Peninsula and southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, according to meteorologists.