A popular tourist island south of mainland China has been hit by the most powerful typhoon in a decade, leaving the area facing potentially catastrophic winds and torrential rain.
Super typhoon Yagi slammed into Wenchang city in the north-east of Hainan island with winds of 223 km/h (138 mph) at 16:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Friday, according to state media.
Yagi is the strongest to hit Hainan since Rammasun in 2014, which left 46 people dead. China’s weather agency said it is the strongest typhoon to make landfall in the autumn.
Some 400,000 people in Hainan island were evacuated to safe ground ahead of Yagi’s arrival. Trains, boats and flights were suspended, while schools were shut.
A super typhoon is equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane.
All tourist attractions have been shut since Wednesday by order of authorities. who warned of “massive and destructive winds”.
