Beijing, September 23, 2025 – As Super Typhoon Yagi barrels toward China's southeastern provinces, authorities have ordered the evacuation of over 400,000 residents, shuttered schools, and grounded flights in a frantic race against one of the strongest storms of the year. The typhoon, packing winds exceeding 200 km/h (124 mph), is forecast to slam into Hainan and Guangdong provinces late Tuesday, threatening widespread destruction in a region already battered by heavy rains.
The China Meteorological Administration issued its highest alert level early Tuesday, warning of "catastrophic" impacts including storm surges up to 3 meters (10 feet) and torrential downpours that could trigger landslides and flooding. In Hainan, the hardest-hit area so far, more than 300,000 people have been relocated to safer ground, with fishing boats recalled and ports closed. Shenzhen and Hong Kong, key economic hubs, have suspended classes, halted public transport, and advised residents to stockpile essentials. "This is a once-in-a-decade event; safety comes first," said Li Ming, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Reduction Committee.
Yagi, which formed in the Pacific last week, has already carved a path of devastation through the Philippines and Vietnam, claiming over 100 lives and displacing millions. Now churning toward China, it represents the most intense tropical cyclone to threaten the mainland since Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. Satellite imagery shows the storm's massive eye wall, a swirling mass of clouds spanning hundreds of kilometers, poised to unleash chaos upon landfall.
Economic ripples are already felt. Hong Kong's stock exchange announced a half-day closure, while airlines like China Southern and Cathay Pacific canceled hundreds of flights, stranding thousands of travelers. In Shenzhen, factories in the world's electronics manufacturing epicenter have halted operations, potentially delaying global supply chains for semiconductors and consumer goods. Analysts estimate potential damages in the billions of yuan, exacerbating China's ongoing economic pressures amid a sluggish recovery.
The typhoon's approach coincides with a broader wave of weather woes across Asia, underscoring the intensifying frequency of extreme events linked to climate change. In China, where coastal cities house over 600 million people, such storms highlight vulnerabilities in urban planning and infrastructure resilience. The government has mobilized 50,000 troops and disaster response teams, drawing on lessons from past calamities to distribute aid swiftly.
Social media in China buzzes with updates, from drone footage of churning seas to heartfelt stories of families reuniting in shelters. One viral post from Hainan showed residents sharing meals amid evacuation lines, captioned: "Together, we weather the storm." Yet, amid the solidarity, concerns linger over the storm's human toll, with warnings of power outages and communication blackouts.
As Yagi closes in, Chinese Premier Li Qiang convened an emergency meeting, pledging full support for recovery efforts. "Our nation stands united against nature's fury," he stated. With the storm's core expected to weaken slightly after landfall, the focus now shifts to post-typhoon rebuilding – a test of China's vaunted rapid-response capabilities.
Meteorologists urge continued vigilance through Wednesday, as remnants of Yagi could spawn further rains inland. For now, the dragon-shaped archipelago of Hainan hunkers down, a stark reminder of the awesome power of the Pacific's wrath. Updates will follow as the situation evolves.