South China's Hainan Province is experiencing severe flooding and widespread disruptions beginning Monday, as Typhoon Kalmaegi continues to generate torrential rains, leading to the evacuation of thousands of residents and the activation of elevated emergency response protocols by local authorities.
Officials in Qionghai City reported that since Monday, sustained downpours have quickly caused rising water levels of multiple rivers, including the Jialang River, the Jiuqu River and the Tayang River, all surpassing their warning thresholds.
On Tuesday, the city upgraded its flood-and-wind emergency response to Level III and relocated residents in low-lying areas. As of 18:00 on Tuesday, 5,854 people had been evacuated safely.
Local emergency departments have issued warnings to riverside towns, villages, and enterprises, urging heightened vigilance amid the ongoing typhoon impacts. Water authorities have intensified reservoir management and safety protocols, executing controlled discharges in accordance with rainfall projections and reservoir capacities to mitigate downstream flooding risks.
In Ding'an County, heavy rains between Monday and Tuesday triggered flooding in several villages. In Longhe Town, the hardest-hit area in the county, local officials and emergency responders conducted continuous patrols of flood-prone areas. A total of 152 individuals from 64 households were evacuated to safety.
By Wednesday afternoon, weather conditions in Ding'an County had improved significantly. Of the 21 villages impacted by flooding, six has seen normalcy return, while drainage efforts continued in the remaining 15. Of the county's 164 submerged road bridges, 80 have reopened, with temporary traffic controls in place for others based on road conditions. All 75 reservoirs are functioning safely, and river water levels, previously above warning thresholds, are steadily declining.
As Typhoon Kalmaegi approaches, Hainan's meteorological authorities have warned that the storm may strengthen after entering the southeastern waters of the South China Sea, likely bringing a new round of severe storms. In response, multiple local departments have launched comprehensive precautionary measures.
On Tuesday, the provincial natural resources and planning authorities, together with the meteorological bureau, issued an orange alert for geological disaster risks.
Parts of Qionghai, Wanning, and Tunchang counties in the province, as well as all of Qiongzhong County, faced heightened risks due to continued rainfall. Meanwhile, emergency authorities have ordered thorough risk inspections across the Nansha Islands and reinforced efforts to prevent urban flooding.
"Measures are needed to effectively address urban flooding, particularly waterlogging in urban and rural areas. During heavy rainfall, individuals should stay away from hazardous zones, such as submerged bridges and low-lying urban areas," said Cao Hengwu, deputy director of Flood Control in Typhoon Prevention and Drought Relief Division, Hainan Provincial Emergency Management Department.
As part of the adjustment in transport plans, railway authorities have suspended all passenger train services to and from Hainan Province from Thursday to Friday.
Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall near Silago in the Philippines' Southern Leyte province in the early hours of Tuesday, causing scores of deaths and leaving a trail of destruction. Kalmaegi blew away from western Palawan province into the South China Sea before noon on Wednesday, packing powerful winds.
Thousands evacuated in Hainan as Typhoon Kalmaegi brings heavy rains
