Hainan, Sep 07 (V7N)— At least two people have been killed and 92 others injured as Super Typhoon Yagi struck China’s southern Hainan province, marking the strongest typhoon to hit the region in the past decade. The storm made landfall on Friday afternoon, bringing heavy rain and strong winds, with gusts reaching 245 km/h (152 mph) at its centre, according to Hainan’s meteorological office.

Nearly a million people were evacuated from the region ahead of the storm’s arrival, as authorities feared widespread damage. Xinhua, China’s state news agency, confirmed the fatalities and reported that the injured were receiving treatment at various hospitals across the province.

Yagi wreaked havoc across Hainan, causing extensive power outages, uprooting trees, and triggering flooding in several areas. Residents were seen constructing sandbag barriers outside their homes in an effort to prevent floodwaters from entering.

All educational institutions in Hainan remained closed for a second consecutive day, and the island’s transport systems have been severely disrupted. Numerous flights were cancelled, and both train and boat services were suspended. Haikou's main airport is expected to remain closed until at least 3 a.m. on Saturday, local authorities announced.

The storm comes on the heels of severe flooding and landslides caused by Yagi earlier this week on the Philippine island of Luzon, where at least 13 people were killed. Now, as the typhoon gains strength, it is projected to move towards Vietnam, with concerns that it could impact the UNESCO-listed Halong Bay area.

Climate experts have pointed to the increasing intensity of tropical storms like Yagi as evidence of the effects of climate change, which has led to warmer ocean temperatures and more severe weather patterns globally.