Super Typhoon Yagi Devastates China: A Decade's Strongest Storm Hits Southern Coast

Super Typhoon Yagi made a catastrophic landfall in China on Friday, paralyzing daily life across the region. Officials have identified Yagi as potentially the most powerful storm to strike China’s southern coast in the past decade.

As the largest storm in Asia this year and the second most formidable tropical cyclone globally in 2024, Yagi has drawn comparisons to a Category 5 hurricane. The Indo-Pacific Tropical Cyclone Warning Center described Yagi as “an extremely dangerous and powerful super typhoon” with the potential for “catastrophic impact” upon landfall in the island province of Hainan.

The storm, which has intensified dramatically since earlier in the week, previously claimed 16 lives in the Philippines. By Friday, Yagi boasted maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour at its center. The typhoon struck the city of Wenchang on Hainan, prompting the evacuation of approximately 410,000 residents from the island, a renowned tourist destination.

According to China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Yagi could surpass Typhoon Rammasun of 2014 in terms of strength, which resulted in 88 fatalities across four provinces. Historical data from Reuters indicates that super typhoons making landfall in Hainan are exceptionally rare, with only nine out of 106 typhoons impacting the island from 1949 to 2023.

The storm is projected to weaken as it moves away from Hainan, with expected impacts extending into Vietnam and Laos over the weekend. Early Friday, the region experienced fierce winds, heavy rainfall, and thunderstorms.

In Hong Kong, a territory with a population of 7.5 million, the stock exchange and schools were closed following a heightened typhoon warning issued Thursday evening. The warning was downgraded by midday Friday, allowing businesses to resume operations. Local officials reported nine injuries and over 100 instances of fallen trees. Despite the disruptions, 80% of flights scheduled for Friday were expected to proceed on time.

Transportation across southern China faced significant interruptions due to the storm. The world’s longest sea bridge, connecting Hong Kong to Macau and Zhuhai in Guangdong, was also shut down.

Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of typhoons to warming ocean temperatures. Last week, Japan experienced one of its most severe storms in decades with Typhoon Shanshan, which caused at least seven deaths and extensive damage.