On the evening of September 6th, Typhoon “Capricorn” made landfall twice in Xuwenzhen City, Guangdong Province. Many cars in Xuwenzhen were destroyed, storefronts were blown away by the wind, and tens or hundreds of acres of banana plantations, betel nut plantations, and coconut trees planted by farmers were severely damaged, with no exception. The farmers not only lost their vehicles and homes, but also their future income and livelihood.
Typhoon “Capricorn” made landfall around 4:20 pm on September 6th in Wenchang, Hainan, and the recorded wind level in Xuwenzhen, Zhanjiang, Guangdong exceeded level 17. The local area experienced water and power outages starting around 7 pm, and around 10:20 pm, Capricorn made landfall in Xuwenzhen again.
As of September 9th, many areas in Xuwenzhen County are still facing water and power outages. Many people who work or go to school outside are unable to contact their parents and relatives back home. Some remote villages were informed that power restoration would not be possible until the 11th or 12th.
A woman in Xuwenzhen recorded the terrifying experience of Capricorn sweeping through. Starting at 7 pm, the power and internet went out, with terrifying sounds resembling ghosts and wolves, and a feeling of the earth shaking and buildings swaying, as if experiencing continuous bombardment. She had never felt such terror before. It was the first time she dared not stay in the rooftop room during a typhoon; the first time she wore a helmet in her own hallway; the first time she couldn’t sleep due to the typhoon… It seemed that no amount of lifetime learning could describe the endless night.
Banana cultivation is a key agricultural industry in Xuwenzhen County, known as the “number one county of bananas in China” with the reputation of “hometown of Chinese bananas.”
A banana farmer in the area disclosed on September 7th that after the typhoon, everything in their home was gone – bananas, betel nuts, and peppers all fell down in large quantities, with not a single one spared.
Another farmer mentioned that the betel nut trees in their home didn’t fall but were all topped, leaving uncertainty about whether they could grow new leaves and survive.
A young fashion designer in Xuwenzhen also shared, “My family has dozens of acres of land, and my parents are devastated.”
Some netizens expressed concerns that apart from the financial ruin facing farmers who rely on cultivation, the complete collapse of banana trees may cause a rise in banana prices this year.
After the impact of Typhoon Capricorn, most of the betel nut trees planted in Hainan were also damaged. A plantation owner noted that betel nut trees need at least 4 years to bear fruit. Betel nut cultivation has flourished in Hainan since 2020, and now there are worries about maintaining the current high prices in the future.
Some plantation owners are worried that even if their trees survive, they will need to regrow roots and absorb nutrients for several years before bearing fruit again.
Xuwenzhen Nanyi Village had always been considered a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life, preserving the most primitive natural scenery and fishing village ambiance, serving as a secluded paradise at the southernmost tip of mainland China.
However, after the typhoon, the owner of a local guesthouse revealed that they cannot currently accommodate tourists. Following the level 17 typhoon, all guesthouses suffered various degrees of damage. Currently, Nanyi Village is facing water and power outages, with fallen trees blocking roads everywhere. During the typhoon on the 6th, it felt as if there were monsters tearing down houses outside, a terrifying experience.
Many netizens are concerned about whether the country will provide assistance after such a severe disaster. A car instructor in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, believes that the government will implement relevant policies to provide assistance.
However, a local resident who has experienced similar situations in the past countered his statement, saying, “You are mistaken. Just look back at Typhoon Rammasun in 2014. It’s up to individuals to bear their losses. Only a few people can receive assistance, and even then, it’s just a drop in the bucket.”
Having gone through this natural disaster, many netizens are lamenting how small humans truly are in the face of nature’s power.