China issues orange alert as Typhoon Matmo approaches

The National Meteorological Center issued an orange typhoon alert, the second-highest in its four-tiered system, at 6 am on Saturday as Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, approaches southern China.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall on Sunday along the coastal areas between Dianbai district of Maoming city, Guangdong province, and Wanning in Hainan province as a severe typhoon, with wind speeds reaching 13 to 14 on the Beaufort scale.

Typhoon Matmo is estimated to be moving northwestward at a speed of 25-30 kilometers per hour, gradually intensifying as it approaches the coastal areas between western Guangdong and eastern Hainan Island before its landfall.

From 8 am on Saturday to 8 am on Sunday, various areas in southern China will experience strong winds and gusts. Heavy to torrential rain is expected in the western coastal areas of Guangdong, as well as central and eastern Hainan Island, with extremely heavy rain in the northeast of Hainan Island, the center said.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Friday activated a Level-IV emergency response for flooding and typhoons, urging local authorities in Guangdong and Hainan to prioritize the safety of people and vessels, and manage flooding and urban water logging.

In response, Hainan's provincial capital Haikou plans to suspend classes, work and transportation from Saturday afternoon to Sunday.

Haikou's major harbors may suspend operations from Saturday noon. All flights at Haikou Meilan International Airport are expected to be canceled starting at 11 pm on Saturday, with the resumption of flight operations dependent on the typhoon's impact.

Similarly, Guangdong's flood control and drought relief headquarters activated a Level-IV emergency flood and typhoon response on Friday. By 6 pm on Friday, the province suspended transportation, work and travel in the waters west of the Pearl River Estuary, including Zhuhai, as well as ensuring safety at key areas like tourist attractions, nursing homes, childcare institutions and hospitals.

According to the maritime safety administration of Zhanjiang, Guangdong, ro-ro passenger ships in the Qiongzhou Strait will suspend operations starting at 4 pm on Saturday, with a two-day suspension expected. Operations will resume based on the typhoon's actual impact.