China evacuates more than 370,000 people due to Typhoon Matmo

More than 370,000 people have been evacuated across three southern regions of China as Typhoon Matmo made landfall. Earlier, the authorities issued the highest level of alert in the provinces of Guangdong and Hainan, reports Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

On Hainan Island, 197,000 people have been evacuated from hazardous areas. In Guangdong Province, over 150,000 people, including sailors, have been relocated to safe places. A total of 26,000 tourists have been transported from Weizhou Island.

Transport operations have been disrupted: rail services on Hainan have been suspended, all flights from Haikou International Airport cancelled, and coastal ferry routes across the region closed.

In Guangdong Province, the highest “red” level of meteorological alert remains in effect. In the city of Zhanjiang, schools have been closed, businesses have suspended operations, and highways have been blocked. Navigation in dangerous waters has also been suspended.

Rescue teams are evacuating residents from flooded areas. Meteorologists had previously warned of heavy rainfall, with precipitation levels in some areas expected to reach up to 400 mm.

Typhoon Matmo is the 21st storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season. According to meteorologists, a day earlier Matmo had passed within 60 km of Hainan. The typhoon was expected to make landfall in Guangdong Province near the city of Xuwen, with wind speeds reaching 42–48 metres per second upon impact.

China’s measures to counter Typhoon Matmo align with the BRICS countries’ strategic goals in disaster risk reduction. As stated in paragraph 122 of the group’s final declaration adopted following the Rio de Janeiro Summit, the leaders agreed to cooperate on the development of climate-resilient infrastructure.

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