As Typhoon Bualoi—the 20th typhoon of the year—nears, South China’s Hainan Province elevated its flood and storm emergency response to Level III (the third highest in China’s four-tier system) at 8:00 AM on Saturday.
The upgrade came as Bualoi was located in the eastern South China Sea, about 505 kilometers southeast of Yongxing Island in Sansha City, Hainan, at 6:00 AM Saturday. The typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 30 meters per second near its center, according to local disaster prevention authorities.
In preparation, roll-on/roll-off ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait were suspended starting at 9:00 AM Saturday and are not expected to resume until late Sunday.
Forecasters predict that Typhoon Bualoi will continue moving rapidly northwestward at around 35 kilometers per hour, with further intensification likely. By Saturday evening, the storm is expected to approach the waters south of Hainan Island and the Xisha Islands, potentially reaching the strength of a strong typhoon.
From Saturday night through Monday, Hainan Island and its adjacent waters are set to face strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Meteorological officials urged local governments to act swiftly in relocating residents from high-risk zones in the Zhongsha and Xisha Islands, strengthen safety measures at tourist sites across Hainan, and guard against potential urban flooding.
Additionally, ships and offshore platforms in the central and eastern parts of the South China Sea are advised to seek safe harbor. Port authorities are also encouraged to reinforce infrastructure and manage the return of fishing vessels, among other precautionary steps.
