Sanya Upgrades Typhoon Warning as Kajiki Approaches

Sanya, situated in South China's Hainan province, has elevated its typhoon warning from orange to red—the highest level in the four-tier warning system—at 6:36 am on Sunday. This comes as Typhoon Kajiki is expected to hit the city between the afternoon and evening hours, as reported by the Sanya Meteorological Observatory.

In light of the incoming storm, Sanya has announced a citywide suspension of classes, work activities, businesses, tourist attractions, and transportation services. The only exceptions to this shutdown are individuals and organizations directly engaged in maintaining public safety and essential services.

Typhoon Kajiki, now classified as the 13th typhoon of the season, gained strength overnight, transforming from a severe tropical storm to a full-fledged typhoon around 2 am on Sunday, according to the Hainan Meteorological Bureau. The storm is currently moving west-northwest at a speed of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour and is set to strengthen further.

The typhoon is on course to impact the southern coast of Hainan Island, particularly Sanya, later on Sunday, before potentially heading towards the central and northern coastal regions of Vietnam. In the coming 12 hours, coastal and inland areas of Sanya are projected to experience wind gusts reaching up to Force 12 on the Beaufort scale, with even stronger gusts expected between Forces 13 and 15. Moreover, heavy rainfall and intense thunderstorms are anticipated during this period.