Torrential rains pounded the southern Chinese resort city of Sanya in Hainan Province on Monday, flooding streets, disrupting residents’ lives and prompting a major relief effort to drain the water and return the city to normal.
The rain stopped at around 16:00 on Monday, but more than 150 millimeters of rain fell between early Sunday and Monday afternoon, flooding more than 30 roads across the city, local authorities reported as Typhoon Trami weakened into a tropical depression after it made landfall in Vietnam on Sunday morning.
The heavy rainfall was caused by a combination of cold fronts and remnants of the typhoon's cloud system, according to the National Meteorological Center. Forecasters predict parts of the island could see up to 400 millimeters of rain through Tuesday.
The Sanya Meteorological Observatory issued a red rainstorm warning early on Monday morning, the highest alert level in the country's four-tier weather warning system.
With severe flooding across the city, local education department announced that all kindergartens and primary and secondary schools would suspend classes starting from noon on Monday until further notice.
Several public facilities and entertainment venues in the popular tourism city were also temporarily closed.
On one major road in Sanya, floodwaters reached nearly one meter deep, prompting an emergency response from local firefighters.
"We have installed five drainage belts. Apart from the drainage work, we also talk to residents nearby, see if there is something they need help with and we can help," said firefighter Huang Dingxu.
About 1,800 workers have been mobilized for emergency flood control and traffic management across Sanya.
Weather officials warn the severe weather could persist until Wednesday.
Sanya streets submerged as heavy rain from Typhoon Trami pummels Hainan
