Tropical storm “Wipha” has intensified into a severe tropical storm (typhoon) after sweeping through Taiwan and the Philippines, and is expected to make landfall along the southern coast of China between today (July 19) and tomorrow (July 20).
This storm marks the sixth typhoon of the season in the western Pacific.
Prior to this, a storm hit the Philippines, causing a parked truck in Quezon City, north of Manila, to collapse under a billboard-like structure blown over by strong winds.
According to reports from Taiwan’s Central News Agency, when Typhoon “Wipha” passed through Taiwan on Saturday (July 19), it brought maximum sustained winds of up to 101 kilometers per hour (about 63 miles per hour) and gusts of up to 126 kilometers per hour (about 78 miles per hour), leading to disruptions in flights and ferry services.
The rainfall in Hualien and Taitung counties exceeded 20 centimeters (about 8 inches), and due to the strong winds and rough sea conditions, some domestic flights were canceled, and 14 ferry routes were suspended. Multiple ferry routes along the coasts of Taiwan and mainland China’s Fujian province have also been suspended.
When passing through the Philippines, “Wipha” caused a parked truck in Quezon City, north of Manila, to be crushed by a toppled billboard due to strong winds.
The Hong Kong Observatory warned that storm surges could bring strong or even stronger winds to low-lying coastal areas and may result in seawater flooding.
Cathay Pacific Airways announced the cancellation or delay of flights from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday (July 20) and offered free rebooking services.
According to Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), the Hong Kong-Macau Bridge, approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) long, will be closed on Saturday night.
The China Meteorological Administration continued to issue a typhoon yellow alert on Saturday morning, stating that “Wipha” had entered the northeastern part of the South China Sea at 7 a.m. on the same day and is heading toward the coastal areas near Guangdong, Shenzhen, and Wenchang in Hainan. From 2 p.m. on July 19 to 2 p.m. on July 20, heavy to torrential rains are expected in southeastern Zhejiang, eastern Fujian, southeastern Guangxi, most of Guangdong, and Hainan Island, with particularly heavy rain (100 to 230 millimeters) in parts of southern coastal Guangdong, the Leizhou Peninsula, and northern Hainan Island.
Hainan Province has implemented response measures, with three ports in the provincial capital Haikou suspending operations starting from Saturday evening.
In 2023, a typhoon caused continuous heavy rainfall in southern China, triggering floods in Hong Kong, Maoming in Guangdong, and other areas. At that time, an overflow from a commercial crocodile farm in Maoming led to over 70 crocodiles escaping.