Southern China's Hainan Province has raised its typhoon alert and suspended transport and school operations as Typhoon Bualoi intensifies over the South China Sea, bringing the threat of strong winds and torrential rain across the island.
At 17:00 on Saturday, Bualoi was located roughly 160 kilometers southeast of Yongxing Dao in Sansha City, packing winds of up to 33 meters per second at its center, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The storm is forecast to move rapidly northwestward at 20 to 25 kilometers per hour while gaining strength.
In response, the Hainan Meteorological Service upgraded its typhoon warning from Level IV to Level III, the second lowest in China’s four-tier system. Authorities expect severe weather before Tuesday, with gusts near Dongsha, Zhongsha, and Xisha waters reaching up to 46 meters per second on Saturday night.
"From Sunday to the daytime of Monday, the wind across the Qiongzhou Strait will increase to about 13 to 17 meters per second, with gust of 20 to 24 meters per second. From Saturday to Sunday, there will be heavy rain or torrential rain in the Zhongsha and Xisha islands, and all the islands and reefs. From Sunday to Monday, most areas of the island will see heavy rain, with some parts to see torrential rain," said Wu Zhiyan, chief forecaster of Hainan Meteorological Observatory.
To cope with the typhoon, Haikou, Hainan's capital city, suspended ports operations from 09:00 on Saturday, with closures expected to last until the night of Sunday.
Rail services have also been disrupted, with all outbound trains and two inbound trains canceled on Saturday. A full suspension of inbound and outbound trains is scheduled for Sunday, while four inbound and one outbound train are set to be canceled on Monday.
Meanwhile, education authorities in Sanya have announced that all primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and off-campus training institutions will close on Sunday. Boarding students will not return to campus Saturday night, and parents are urged to keep children indoors throughout the storm.
Authorities warned that the storm’s impact will peak between Sunday and Monday, with widespread downpours and dangerous gusts expected, while port, rail, and school operations remain suspended until further notice.
Hainan halts traffic, closes schools as Typhoon Bualoi approaches
