Relief operations underway as Typhoon Yagi lashes Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi

Relief operations are in full swing after Super Typhoon Yagi’s rampaged across south China's Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi with strong winds and torrential rain, causing widespread disruption.

Yagi, the 11th typhoon of this year, made landfalls in the provinces of Hainan and Guangdong on Friday.

The typhoon made landfall in Wenchang City in the island province of Hainan around 16:20 Friday, packing winds of over 234 kilometers per hour.

Authorities had overseen the evacuation of 312,600 people from the worst-affected areas of Hainan by 15:00 on Saturday, and deployed more than 20,000 rescue personnel across the province to assist in recovery efforts.

With the winds and rains from the typhoon beginning to subside on Saturday, recovery efforts are ramping up.

"We have deployed bulldozers and excavators to help clean the main roads," said Du Xiubai, an official in Hainan's Wentian Township.

Soldiers and police officers have also joined the relief efforts, helping to clear debris and restore traffic in the severely affected areas of Haikou on Hainan island.

Yagi made its second landfall in Xuwen County, in the city of Zhanjiang, in south China's Guangdong Province, around 22:20 on Friday.

Zhanjiang opened 142 relocation sites and hotels to provide shelter for over 12,000 residents.

"We are making every effort in the emergency rescue operations and closely monitoring the path of Typhoon Yagi. We will continue to enhance the supply of gas, electricity, and water. Affected residents have been successfully relocated," said Liu Xianhai, deputy director with the emergency management bureau of Zhanjiang.

Over 20,000 repair personnel from Southern Power Grid Company have been dispatched to restore power supply facilities in the disaster-stricken areas of Hainan and Guangdong.

The super typhoon entered the waters of Beifu Gulf in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region at 23:00 on Friday, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain.

In Guangxi, 53,500 people have been relocated, and 6,290 fishing boats have returned to port to seek shelter from the storm.

Elsewhere, rescue teams comprising over 3,000 personnel, fully equipped with rescue gear and supplies, are standing by in the cities of Beihai, Qinzhou, and Fangchenggang, ready to respond to any emergencies.

"We have coordinated the orderly departure of vessels in the port according to their tonnage. We are fully committed to implementing preventive measures to safeguard the lives and property of the people," said Tang Wei, director with the marine department of Qisha Township in Fangchenggang City.

Strong winds and torrential rain from Typhoon Yagi also battered areas of Yunnan Province on Friday and Saturday.

Relief operations underway as Typhoon Yagi lashes Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi

Truck drivers and their cargoes sought refuge in a Shanghai activity hub as Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit the city in decades, made landfall on Monday morning, unleashing heavy rains and winds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.

In the Pudong District, situated on the southeastern tip of Shanghai, the impact of Typhoon Bebinca was stark, with trees and road signs uprooted, construction sites disrupted, and bicycles scattered across the ground.

Shanghai is not prone to strong typhoons, but local authorities have made emergency plans.

In Lingang Special Area, an activity hub was transformed into a temporary shelter for over 130 truck drivers and their cargoes.

"With such strong winds, it's not safe to park my truck on the street. Trees could fall. Parking here is a safer choice. The service is good here. It's clean, and it also provides food. We can take a shower here," said Wang Shaodong, a truck driver from east China's Anhui Province.

"The Donghai Bridge has been closed, as the typhoon is approaching. That's why we came here. They provide us with bedding, and air conditioners were turned on. So we are staying here. There are also meals downstairs," said Gong Xiangge, a hazardous cargo driver from east China's Shandong Province.

"We call these truck drivers 'men living on wheels.' The 13th typhoon [of this year] brought gales, with maximum wind speed reaching 36.9 meters per second, so danger may come at any time. So staying on the side of the street is unsafe for both trucks and drivers," said Fan Jianrong, deputy director of Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group.

Although traffic resumed on all roads and bridges across Shanghai starting from 20:00 on Monday, precautions are still in place as Typhoon Pulasan, the 14th of the year, has formed in the northeastern Pacific and could follow a similar path to Typhoon Bebinca.

The director of the center said that the shelter remains open to those in need, ensuring that assistance is readily available for individuals affected by the poor weather.

Truck drivers seek shelter as powerful typhoon hits Shanghai