China's southernmost city Sansha issues highest alert against Typhoon Bualoi

To brace for Typhoon Bualoi, the 20th typhoon of the year, Sansha, China's southernmost island city in Hainan Province, issued its highest-level emergency alert for floods and storms on Saturday afternoon.

Across the city, staff at key locations, including Yongxing Community and the local environmental protection center, were reinforcing doors and windows. Along the Island Ring Road in the city, workers cleared away freshly trimmed tree branches to prevent obstructions during the storm.

In the city harbor, vehicles carrying backup generators were positioned to ensure a stable power supply for the islands. At the temporary shelter set up in the Sansha Cultural and Sports Center, personnel were moving in daily necessities and making arrangements to support evacuated residents.

"The evacuation, covering nine zones and 255 people, has been completed. We have stockpiled supplies such as water, instant noodles, ham sausages, and pickles, and have reinforced doors and windows of the cultural and sports center, making every effort to ensure the evacuees' basic living needs and personal safety during the typhoon," said Zhao Miaomiao, a member of the residents' committee of Binhai Community.

Earlier that afternoon, at the prefabricated housing area near Binhai Community, officers from the Sansha City Public Security Bureau helped residents carry essential belongings and escorted them to emergency shelters.

At the shelters, evacuees were provided with air mattresses and assigned to designated rest areas. Staff remained on-site to assist with basic living needs and ensure their comfort stay during the storm.

"We've coordinated with neighboring units, including the Yongxing Affairs Administration Bureau, to arrange all available rooms to accommodate women and children. We also coordinated with the Yongxing Affairs Administration Bureau to assist in cooking noodles and porridge to ensure their daily meals," said Lu Yan, an official with the Government of Xisha District of Sansha City.

By 16:00 Saturday, a total of 685 people had been safely relocated and settled into emergency shelters across Sansha.

A powerful winter storm swept through Toronto and surrounding areas on Thursday, causing school closures and travel delays as heavy snowfall reduced visibility and affected transportation services.

Meteorological authorities warned that heavy snowfall would greatly reduce visibility, while local transportation officials reported that several roads had been completely closed and major surface transit routes were operating at reduced speeds due to the storm.

Toronto Pearson International Airport officials announced Thursday that air traffic control measures had been implemented due to severe weather, affecting several inbound and outbound flights. Meanwhile, several local school boards in Toronto fully suspended classes, while others enacted partial closures in response to the storm.