Typhoon Wipha made landfall in southern China on Sunday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to coastal regions.
The national observatory issued a yellow alert as the sixth typhoon of the year approached, affecting the provinces of Hainan and Guangdong.
Emergency responses were activated in both provinces. Hainan launched a Level IV emergency response on Saturday morning, while Guangdong upgraded its response from Level IV to Level II.
The Hainan Meteorological Service reported that Typhoon Wipha is moving toward coastal areas stretching from Shenzhen in Guangdong to Wenchang in Hainan, with landfall expected between Sunday afternoon and night.
From Saturday to July 22, most sea areas and land regions in Hainan are forecasted to experience heavy rain and strong winds. The Qiongzhou Strait, between Guangdong and Hainan, may face prolonged suspensions of shipping operations during this period.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, one of the world’s longest cross-sea bridges, is shutting down early on Sunday due to the typhoon.
Haikou, the capital city of Hainan, is preparing for severe waterlogging. Guangdong is also bracing for strong thunderstorms, gales, and tidal waves.
Specialized rescue vessels, helicopters, high-power tugboats, and cleanup vessels have been placed on standby in Guangdong to assist if necessary.
China has a four-tier emergency response system for typhoons, with Level I being the most severe.
