Super Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, made landfall in China’s Hainan province on Friday, bringing powerful winds and heavy rain that led to widespread power outages and forced about a million people to evacuate in the southern part of the country. With sustained winds reaching a maximum of 234km/h near its center, Yagi is the second most powerful tropical cyclone this year after Hurricane Beryl in the Atlantic. The storm caused significant damage and disruption in Hainan, with power outages affecting 830,000 households.
Before hitting China, Yagi had already impacted Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong, and Vietnam, disrupting schools, businesses, and transportation services. Despite its strength, no fatalities have been reported in Hainan so far. Experts attribute the increased intensity of typhoons like Yagi to warmer ocean temperatures caused by climate change.
The storm’s impact has been compared to Typhoon Rammasun in 2014, which killed 88 people and caused significant economic losses in southern China. Yagi, following a similar path to Rammasun, caused widespread damage to infrastructure and buildings in Hainan. Residents were warned to stay indoors and evacuate if necessary as the storm made its way through the region.
Despite the challenges posed by Super Typhoon Yagi, authorities in China have mobilized emergency response teams to restore power and assist affected communities. The storm has highlighted the growing threat of severe weather events in the region and the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of climate-related disasters.
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