
China's southern province is on alert as Typhoon Wipha enters South China Sea
Hainan activated a Level IV emergency response at 9 a.m. Saturday, while Guangdong upgraded its emergency response from Level IV to Level II at 11 a.m.
According to the Hainan Meteorological Service, Typhoon Wipha intensified from a tropical storm to a strong tropical storm in the early hours of Saturday. At 8 a.m., its centre was located in the northeastern part of the South China Sea, at approximately 930 kilometres east of Wenchang City of Hainan.
The Hainan Meteorological Service estimated that Wipha is advancing northwest at a speed of approximately 20 kilometres per hour while gaining strength. It is approaching the coastal areas stretching from Shenzhen in Guangdong to Wenchang in Hainan, and is likely to make landfall in these areas between Sunday afternoon and nighttime.
Due to its impact, from Saturday to July 22, most sea areas and land regions in Hainan will experience rainstorms and strong winds. Additionally, the Qiongzhou Strait between Guangdong and Hainan may face prolonged suspensions of shipping operations from Sunday until July 22.
Haikou, the capital city of Hainan, may experience severe waterlogging. Meanwhile, Guangdong is bracing for strong thunderstorms, gales and tidal waves.
Additionally, Guangdong has maintained specialised rescue vessels and helicopters, along with high-power tugboats and cleanup vessels on standby.
China has a four-tier emergency response system for typhoons, with Level I being the most severe. - Bernama-Xinhua

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Romania faces one of driest agricultural years since 1901
BUCHAREST, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Romania is facing one of its driest agricultural years in over a century, with rainfall far below normal levels, the head of the National Meteorological Administration (ANM) said on Friday. Speaking at the "Climate Change and Economic Impact" conference, ANM Director General Elena Mateescu said the 2023-2024 agricultural year ranks as the fifth driest since records began in 1901, with cumulative rainfall from September 2023 to July 2024 totaling just 534.7 liters per square meter. Mateescu warned that the current 2024-2025 agricultural year is also on track to be among the driest, with only 500.7 liters per square meter recorded so far. "It's very close to the top of the driest agricultural years," she said. Severe soil drought continues to affect wide areas in Romania's west, south, and southeast, threatening crop yields and economic stability. Mateescu pointed to a growing trend, saying dry years have occurred five to six times per decade since 2000. She called for urgent adaptation strategies in agriculture and climate change, alongside emergency planning, to tackle escalating climate risks.

The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Some 280,000 people homeless as more weather chaos hits Philippines
A woman carrying a baby wading through a flooded area in Manila North Road following heavy rains brought by Typhoon Co-may in Minalin, Pampanga in the Philippines on July 25, 2025. - Reuters MANILA: After days of monsoon rains and flooding in the Philippines, tropical storm Co-may further exacerbated the situation in the north of the country on Friday (July 25). At least 30 landslides occurred in the city of Baguio, authorities there said. According to official reports, at least 25 people have died across the country since the heavy rains began about a week ago. Many of the victims drowned or were trapped under trees or debris. A total of about three million people have been affected by the flooding, and around 280,000 are now homeless. More than 24,000 schools were closed on Friday, the Philippine news channel ABS-CBN reported. School buildings served as evacuation centres in 10 regions of the island nation. Tropical storm Wipha had previously caused chaos in the Philippines and other parts of South-East Asia in mid-July.


The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Selangor forest fire under control, peatland monitoring continues
SHAH ALAM: The forest fires affecting several areas in Selangor have been successfully contained, according to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. However, authorities remain vigilant in monitoring peatland zones due to their heightened fire risk and prolonged extinguishing challenges. 'There were three fire incidents, namely in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Kajang and Seri Gombak. But Alhamdulillah they were brought under control immediately,' said Amirudin. He added that ongoing surveillance in Kuala Kubu Bharu aims to prevent reignition, with particular concern for peatland fires, which require extensive operations to manage. Speaking after launching the third Selangor Children's Book Festival at the PKNS Complex, Amirudin noted that the state government, through Public Health and Environment Exco Jamaliah Jamaluddin and the State Disaster Management Unit, is conducting daily haze monitoring. Increased patrols in high-risk zones aim to prevent recurring fires. On the book festival, Amirudin highlighted its role in supporting the local publishing industry, particularly for children's literature. Over 160 stalls and an estimated 80,000 visitors are expected at the four-day event, showcasing works from publishers and child-focused organisations. - Bernama