China braces for Typhoon Matmo as over 150,000 residents evacuated in southern provinces

China’s southern provinces are preparing for Typhoon Matmo, with Guangdong authorities relocating over 150,000 residents and Hainan suspending rail services across the island. The National Meteorological Centre said on Sunday that Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, had intensified into a severe typhoon that morning. The storm is forecast to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to Hainan province, Guangdong province, and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, reported the South China Morning Post.

According to the centre, Matmo is moving northwest at 20 to 25 km/h (12 to 15 mph) and is expected to make landfall between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan around midday on Sunday. It is projected to weaken gradually after landfall. The Chinese weather authority has maintained a red typhoon alert — the highest level in its four-tier warning system — after upgrading it from orange on Saturday evening.

Evacuations, shutdowns and transport Suspensions

State broadcaster CCTV reported that by 8 pm on Saturday, 151,352 people had been relocated across Guangdong, with more than 10,000 emergency and rescue workers deployed. At a provincial preparedness meeting on Saturday, Guangdong’s deputy party secretary Meng Fanli urged local authorities to “go into battle mode” and enforce typhoon prevention measures “with the strictest standards, utmost precision and concrete actions.” With National Day and Mid-Autumn holidays bringing heavy travel, Meng said the goal was to ensure “no casualties and minimal losses.”

The port city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong announced a shutdown of classes, work, production, transport, and businesses on Saturday evening, closing all highways from Sunday morning, Xinhua reported. In Hainan province, cities including Haikou and Wenchang suspended work, classes, business operations, public transport, and ferry services, and closed scenic areas.

All trains on the island were suspended on Sunday, with high-speed rail services expected to resume on Monday. Flights to and from Haikou Meilan International Airport were cancelled from Saturday night, with operations set to gradually resume from Sunday evening, according to Xinhua.

Last month, southern China endured Super Typhoon Ragasa without fatalities, largely due to extensive precautions. More than 1 million people were evacuated across Guangdong, supported by over 38,000 firefighters and rescue personnel. The tech hub of Shenzhen had also spent days preparing, opening 865 temporary shelters in anticipation of the storm.