China and Hong Kong Brace for Super Typhoon Yagi, Flights Canceled and Emergency Alerts Raised

China and Hong Kong are preparing for the imminent arrival of Super Typhoon Yagi, which is expected to be the strongest storm to hit the region in nearly a decade.

Emergency alerts have been raised, schools closed, and dozens of flights canceled as the powerful storm approaches, threatening southern China’s coastal areas.

Yagi, which doubled in strength after hitting the Philippines earlier this week, now packs sustained winds of 209 kilometers per hour (130 mph), making it the second-strongest cyclone of 2024, following Hurricane Beryl. On Thursday, the storm’s center was located 610 kilometers southeast of Zhanjiang City in Guangdong province, moving westward at 10-15 km/h. The storm is expected to make landfall between Qionghai in Hainan and Dianbai in Guangdong on Friday, with the provinces of Guangdong and Hainan bracing for the most significant impact.

In preparation, authorities in China, Hong Kong, and Macau have taken precautionary measures. Schools have been closed, flights have been suspended, and typhoon alerts have been raised. In Hong Kong, the No. 8 signal — the third-highest on a five-tier system — was issued on Thursday, leading to the cancellation of several flights and the potential closure of the stock exchange if the signal remains in place on Friday. Similar precautions have been taken in Guangdong, where emergency response levels were upgraded, and Macau, which is also expected to be impacted by the storm.

As Yagi approaches, intercity buses and rail services have been suspended in Hainan, with flights canceled from Thursday evening until Friday midnight. Tourist attractions have also been closed, and residents have taken measures to reinforce windows and prevent flooding.

Independent, Reuters, and CNN contributed to this report.