On June 12th, the China Meteorological Administration issued a typhoon yellow alert. The first typhoon of the year, named “Butterfly,” is expected to make landfall along the coastal areas from Linghsui to Ledong in Hainan on the 13th. It is forecasted to land again on the western part of Guangdong to the coast of Guangxi on the 14th, and then move north to impact Fujian and Zhejiang.
According to the forecast, from the 12th to the 14th, there will be heavy to torrential rains in most of South China, with some areas experiencing extremely heavy rainfall. The South China Sea, the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, the Qiongzhou Strait, the Xisha Islands, the Nansha Islands, the Zhongsha Islands, the coastal areas of Guangdong, the coastal areas of Hainan Island, and the coastal areas of Guangxi will experience winds of force 6 to 8, with gusts reaching force 9 to 10. Near the center of the typhoon, gusts in the adjacent sea areas can reach force 12 to 13. The China Meteorological Administration initiated a level III emergency response to a major meteorological disaster (typhoon) at 9:30 on the 12th.
Due to the impact of “Butterfly,” according to a report from CCTV News, the Haikou Xinhai Port, Xiuying Port, and the railway Nangang in Haikou have suspended operations since 11:00 on June 12th and are expected to remain closed until the afternoon of June 14th. During this period, all vehicles and passengers will not be able to cross the sea.
In addition, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily, as of 8:00 p.m. on the 11th, all 46 fishing boats operating in Hainan have sought shelter in port; 49,680 fishing boats (including rural fishing boats) in the sea areas west of the Pearl River Estuary have also docked, and 926 personnel from offshore wind power construction platforms, 8,211 aquaculture personnel, and 1,200 personnel from marine ranches have all come ashore for safety.