On Friday, southern China faced severe disruptions as Super Typhoon Yagi moved toward landfall along Hainan's tropical coast. Schools remained closed for the second consecutive day and flights were cancelled in anticipation of one of the year's most potent storms, packing maximum sustained winds of 245 km per hour near its eye. Yagi's power makes it the world's second-most powerful tropical cyclone in 2024 so far, surpassed only by the Category 5 Atlantic Hurricane Beryl.

The storm's intensity more than doubled after it wreaked havoc in northern Philippines earlier this week. It made landfall along China's coastline, impacting the stretch from Wenchang on Hainan Island to Leizhou in Guangdong province. Reports from the island of Hainan revealed extensive preparations and preventive measures. Authorities ordered the evacuation of over 400,000 residents, closed major tourist sites, and halted operations on the high-speed rail network around the island.

Meanwhile, the observatory of NASA captured a satellite image of Typhoon Yagi as it neared China. The image, taken on September 5th at 10:12 local time, showed the storm with sustained winds of 225 kilometers per hour, akin to a Category 4 hurricane. The typhoon, which first appeared near Palau in late August, caused flash floods and landslides in Luzon, Philippines, on September 2nd. Despite temporary weakening over Luzon's rugged terrain, the storm rapidly intensified as it moved over the South China Sea, encountering unusually warm waters and favorable atmospheric conditions.

China's National Meteorological Center has renewed its red alert, predicting torrential rains and powerful winds will hit primarily the country's south. This has instigated high alert in neighboring Vietnam as well, where Yagi is expected to arrive next. Vietnamese officials have announced the evacuation of tens of thousands and the closure of numerous coastal airports.

In Hong Kong, the stock exchange was suspended, schools were closed, and public transport faced restrictions due to the storm. The typhoon wowed by 400 kilometers from Hong Kong overnight, leading to heavy rain that left parts of the city submerged. Despite these precautions, only three minor injuries were reported.

With rising instances of more intense storms attributed to climate change, typhoons in this region are forming closer to the coast, intensifying more rapidly, and persisting longer over land. This has posed significant challenges for disaster management officials. Beijing has consequently struggled with flood prevention and has needed to constantly adapt to these evolving hazards.

In preparation for Yagi's further complications, Vietnamese authorities mobilized over 457,000 military personnel for relief operations, and requested the precautionary shelter of some 50,000 fishing vessels. Four airports, including Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, are set to close for several hours.

Residents in vulnerable regions, like Pham Quang Quyen from Quang Ninh province, have expressed a sense of preparedness fortified by years of facing similar natural disasters. With messages being sent to millions of Vietnamese through Zalo, the country's most popular mobile app, urging constant vigilance, it is evident the severity of the situation is being addressed with utmost seriousness.