Typhoon Tapah, the 16th typhoon to hit Guangdong province this year, made landfall in southern China on Monday, causing widespread disruptions and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.
The storm brought powerful winds and torrential rain, with maximum winds reaching 108 kilometers per hour (67 miles per hour). According to state broadcaster CCTV, the storm made landfall in the city of Taishan in Guangdong province.
Authorities reported that an estimated 60,000 people were evacuated across southern China before the storm came ashore. In Taishan, classes were suspended for 120,000 students at schools and kindergartens across the city, while 41,000 people were evacuated in Jiangmen.
Chinese state media reported that 3,300 emergency personnel were on standby in the city. The southern cities of Jiangmen, Maoming, and Zhuhai also raised typhoon warnings and announced school closures.
The typhoon caused significant disruptions to air travel, with hundreds of flights cancelled in Hong Kong, a major regional economic hub. Travellers were stranded at the airport awaiting information on when flights would continue.
Macao, a nearby casino hub, also ordered the closure of its schools, public transport, and taxis, and reported disruptions to flights. In the neighbouring city of Yangjiang, just west of Hong Kong, an estimated 1,785 workers were evacuated from 26 offshore wind platforms, along with 2,026 people from fish farms.
The Guangdong Meteorological Bureau raised a yellow alert, the third highest in China’s four-tier warning system, and forecast thunderstorms and gale-force winds.
Guangdong’s Emergency Management Department ordered the suspension of all outdoor activities and closed recreational areas like parks and beaches. Authorities warned residents in areas impacted by the typhoon to remain vigilant.
Typhoon Tapah made landfall in southern China’s Guangdong Province on Monday, causing widespread disruptions and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.
The storm brought powerful winds and torrential rain, with maximum winds reaching 108 kilometers per hour (67 miles per hour). According to the provincial meteorological observatory, the typhoon made landfall in Jiangmen City of Guangdong.
The Guangdong Meteorological Bureau raised a yellow alert, the third highest in China’s four-tier warning system, forecasting thunderstorms and gale-force winds. As a result, authorities evacuated an estimated 60,000 people across southern China before the storm came ashore.
In Taishan, classes were suspended for 120,000 students at schools and kindergartens across the city, while 41,000 people were evacuated in Jiangmen. Chinese state media reported that 3,300 emergency personnel were on standby in the city.
The typhoon significantly impacted air travel, with hundreds of flights canceled in Hong Kong, a major regional economic hub. Travelers were stranded at the airport awaiting information on when flights would continue. Macao, a nearby casino hub, also ordered the closure of its schools, public transport, and taxis, and reported disruptions to flights.
In preparation for the storm, Guangdong’s Emergency Management Department ordered the suspension of all outdoor activities and closed recreational areas like parks and beaches.
Authorities warned residents in areas impacted by the typhoon to remain vigilant. The southern cities of Jiangmen, Maoming, and Zhuhai also raised typhoon warnings and announced school closures.
In Yangjiang City, authorities evacuated 1,785 workers from 26 offshore wind platforms and 2,026 people from fish farms. Twelve coastal tourist sites were also shut down. The typhoon is expected to move northwest, gradually losing power until it exits the province.
According to the latest updates, Typhoon Tapah has a current wind speed of 120 km/h, and its minimum central pressure is 984 hPa.
The maximum significant wave height is 8.8 meters (29 feet). The typhoon is expected to continue tracking towards the northwest, weakening as it moves over the rugged terrain of southern China, and dissipating within the next 24 to 36 hours.
