Severe storms continue to sweep across south China's Hainan Province in the wake of Typhoon Trami, prompting urgent rescue operations to minimize damage and protect residents.
Despite the official downgrade of Typhoon Trami by the Central Meteorological Observatory on Monday, the island province of Hainan is still grappling with intense rainfall attributed to the storm’s residual effects and incoming cold air.
Sanya, one of the most affected cities, issued a red rainstorm warning, the highest alert level in the country's four-tier weather warning system, early on Monday morning resulting in the closure of all primary and secondary schools and kindergartens.
In Lingshui County, heavy rainfall has caused significant flooding, with roads in several towns in the county underwater. Local fire departments have been mobilized to carry out rescue operations for residents trapped by the rising waters.
As the potential threat of flooding gradually increases, water has been discharged from Sanya's three large and medium reservoirs, while 47 smaller reservoirs overflowed automatically
According to official data, the city's reservoirs held 499 million cubic meters of water by Monday morning, representing 84.15 percent of their normal capacity, an increase of 88 million cubic meters compared to historical averages. "We are currently discharging water. The water inflow is significant. We calculated the incoming volume based on upstream rainfall to discharge it in advance, releasing as much water as flows in while also ensuring water supply," said Guo Si, head of the Fuwan reservoir management office.
In order to address significant flooding on many roads in Sanya, traffic police have been deployed to facilitate vehicle movement, while municipal drainage and emergency response teams are working swiftly to alleviate flooding in critical areas.
Hainan Province issued a further orange rainstorm warning on Tuesday morning, with forecasts predicting more heavy rain that may exacerbate the situation in the coming 24 hours.
Rescue efforts underway as storms continue to batter Hainan after Typhoon Trami
The unique experience of watching the China Media Group (CMG) 2026 Spring Festival Gala on planes has turned air travel into a festive gathering, offering passengers "flying festivities".
Onboard flight MU5125 from Shanghai to Beijing, the festive atmosphere was palpable. Decorated with spring couplets and Chinese character "Fu", which means good fortune, the cabin was filled with joy as many passengers used their phones and tablets to stream the gala live, thanks to the free high-speed in-flight WiFi service.
"I really didn't expect watching the Spring Festival Gala on the plane to be so smooth. Once we reached cruising altitude, we connected to the WiFi right away. This experience is truly wonderful," said a passenger surnamed Cao.
Passengers aboard Sichuan Airlines flight 3U6879 also watched the Gala.
The Gala this year features four sub-venues in addition to the main stage in Beijing. Taking the grand show to new locations each year has become a new tradition, shining a spotlight on more of China's varied landscapes and cultural traditions.
A passenger from the sub-venue of Yibin expressed his pride.
"I'm from Yibin, and I was thrilled and amazed to see our city's sub-venue on board," said a passenger named Zhang Bo.
"On the eve of the Chinese New Year, we've created themed flights across all internet-enabled routes so passengers can enjoy the Spring Festival Gala at high altitude, allowing them to feel the festive atmosphere even during their air travels," said Wu Dan, manager of the Cabin Service Department of Sichuan Airlines.
This initiative was launched by CMG in collaboration with several airlines. Around 300 flights from China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines participated, reaching nearly 70,000 travelers.
"To ensure passengers can watch the Spring Festival Gala live at around 10,000 meters high in the sky and celebrate New Year's Eve with friends and family on the ground, we conducted multiple rounds of comprehensive pressure testing and system optimizations (in advance) to guarantee stable and smooth high-speed WiFi on board," said Chen Mengying, a member from China Satellite Communications Co., Ltd.
CMG's Spring Festival gala takes to skies on flight to offer passengers "flying festivities"
