As Typhoon Wutip, the year's first typhoon, draws closer, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated to safety in Hainan Province, South China.
16,561 individuals have been evacuated by the province as of 8 p.m. Thursday from construction sites, low-lying flood-prone areas, and locations vulnerable to flash floods.
Over 40,000 workers aboard the province's 30,721 fishing vessels were evacuated ashore, and all of the vessels had either returned to ports or sought refuge elsewhere.
As of 11 a.m. Friday, the province's meteorological agency kept a Level III typhoon alert in place as Typhoon Wutip continued to intensify.
The storm's centre, which had maximum sustained winds of 28 meters per second near it, was situated over coastal waters close to Ledong Li Autonomous County as of 10 a.m. on Friday. In various areas of the province, rain is predicted by 8 p.m.
Typhoon Wutip is predicted to proceed northward at a speed of 5 to 10 kilometres per hour at noon, with minimal intensity change, according to weather projections.
Wutip is a dangerous tropical storm with winds of 25 to 28 meters per second that could make landfall or brush the coast between Ledong County and Dongfang City on Friday.
Local authorities also stated rescuing twelve crew members from a ship in South China&rsquo;s island province of Hainan as Typhoon Wutip hits.
The Ministry of Transport's Nanhai Rescue Bureau was notified Thursday night that 12 individuals on a cargo ship located approximately 14 nautical miles (26 kilometres) off a promontory in southwestern Hainan needed to be evacuated because of Wutip.
On Thursday, the rescue ship set off at 6:30 p.m. and reached the location around 11:50 p.m., where three-meter waves were created by gales. 43 minutes later, rescuers were able to hoist those crew members to safety, and around noon on Friday, they are anticipated to return to an anchorage.
The evacuees will remain aboard the rescue ship, where they will get medical attention and everyday essentials. When the weather permits, they will be brought ashore.
In Sanya, all kindergartens, schools, building sites and tourism destinations have been shut down.
Sanya Airport cancelled all flights starting at 10 p.m. Thursday, ships are not allowed to sail. Hainan's high-speed rail services have been suspended; they should start up again on Saturday.
With seven rescue boats and four helicopters ready to respond to crises, the Nanhai Rescue Bureau is keeping a tight eye on Wutip.
The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said Wednesday that Wutip, the first typhoon to hit China this year, formed over the South China Sea.
China has experienced a range of extreme weather events in recent summers, from severe heat waves and droughts to flooding and heavy rainfall.
China, the greatest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, is also at the forefront of developing renewable energy and has pledged to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2060.
Typhoon Gaemi, which moved from the Philippines and Taiwan before striking eastern China, brought with it heavy rains in August of last year, killing at least 30 people and leaving many more missing.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Over 16,000 evacuated as Typhoon Wutip lashes Hainan; schools shut, rescue ops underway.

Typhoon Wutip Hits Hainan: Thousands Evacuated, Flights Cancelled

Over 16,000 evacuated as Typhoon Wutip lashes Hainan; schools shut, rescue ops underway.

June 13, 2025 | 17:23 IST