Thousands of residents across southern China have been forced to flee their homes as Typhoon Matmo made landfall, unleashing powerful winds and torrential rains that have disrupted daily life and raised fears of widespread destruction.
According to state media, over 197,000 people were evacuated from Hainan Island, while another 150,000 were moved from Guangdong province as authorities braced for the storm’s impact. Cities including Haikou, Wenchang, Maoming, and Zhanjiang bore the brunt of the typhoon, with transportation, schools, and businesses temporarily shut down to ensure public safety.
Typhoon Matmo roared ashore in Guangdong on Sunday afternoon, bringing winds that exceeded 150 kilometers per hour and triggering high waves and storm surges along the coast. The storm has flooded several low-lying areas, with emergency workers battling to clear roads blocked by fallen trees and debris. Power outages were reported in parts of Hainan as electric lines were damaged by the heavy winds.
Local governments have mobilized rescue teams and emergency shelters for displaced families. In Weizhou Island, more than 26,000 tourists were safely evacuated before the storm struck, preventing potential casualties. Ferry services and construction activities across the affected provinces were suspended, while fishing boats were ordered to return to shore.
In Beihai City within the Guangxi region, authorities declared a temporary halt to work and classes due to the dangerous weather conditions. The China Meteorological Administration warned that the storm’s effects would continue through Monday, bringing intense rainfall and possible flash floods to Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi.
Residents were urged to remain indoors, avoid riverbanks, and steer clear of mountainous and low-lying areas prone to landslides. Disaster response teams have been deployed in all high-risk zones, with emergency hotlines opened to assist those affected by flooding.
Meteorologists have expressed concern that Matmo’s intensity could cause further damage as it moves inland, particularly in regions already saturated by earlier rainfall. The storm’s combination of strong winds and persistent rain has been described as one of the most severe weather events to hit southern China this year.
While authorities continue to monitor the storm’s movement, relief operations are underway to provide food, shelter, and medical assistance to the evacuees. The government has emphasized the importance of public cooperation to minimize casualties and property loss.
As Typhoon Matmo slowly tracks northward, residents across southern China remain on high alert, watching the skies and hoping that the worst has passed. For many, the storm serves as yet another reminder of the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events battering the region in recent years.
Image by News.rthk.hk
