Multiple localities in southern China have activated their emergency response systems on Monday in anticipation of the arrival of Typhoon Talim. Train services, flights, and ships have been suspended, and businesses, work, and schools have been temporarily halted in order to prepare for the storm, which is expected to make landfall on Monday evening.
The National Meteorological Center (NMC) of China has issued warnings stating that Typhoon Talim will bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to the southern provinces of Hainan, Guangdong, and Yunnan, as well as to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hong Kong, and Macao.
The Ministry of Natural Resources has forecasted turbulent waves ranging from 6-9 meters in the northern part of the South China Sea, waves of 4-5.8 meters in the coastal waters of western Guangdong, and waves of 2.5-4 meters in Guangxi and Hainan.
Storm surge alerts have been issued in multiple cities in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan, with several rivers expected to exceed the alert level, according to the NMC.
In Hainan, railway operations have been suspended due to the warning of potential mountain flooding across the entire island. Flights at Haikou Meilan International Airport and Qionghai Boao Airport for Monday have been canceled. Over 26,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas, and 16,293 ships have returned to port.
Haikou city in Hainan, located within the projected path of Typhoon Talim, has announced the suspension of transportation, schools, manufacturing, and businesses starting from Monday noon. The public has been advised to reduce outdoor activities and prepare emergency shelters.
Numerous shipping lines, trains, and flights have also been canceled in Guangxi and Guangdong to ensure the safety of tourists in island and coastal areas during the peak summer vacation season.
In response to the approaching typhoon, kindergartens, elementary and middle schools in certain areas of Guangdong and Macao have been temporarily suspended. Shenzhen has declared a state of typhoon defense, with schools and workplaces preparing for possible closures.
As Typhoon Talim is also expected to affect northern Vietnam, including the popular tourist attraction of Ha Long Bay, and the border port between China’s Dongxing and Vietnam’s Mong Cai, the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam has advised Chinese nationals to avoid traveling to mountainous areas prone to flash floods, mudslides, and landslides, as well as dangerous zones near the sea and riversides.
Experts have highlighted that China has made significant progress in enhancing its capabilities for typhoon and flood prevention in recent years. The country has implemented advanced technologies to monitor typhoon paths and intensities accurately and has established a robust emergency response mechanism, including professional rescue teams, emergency supplies, and post-disaster reconstruction plans.