Yagi earlier caused floods and landslides in the Philippines, particularly on the island of Luzon, where at least 13 people were reported dead.
The storm strengthened as it moved westward across the South China Sea, with winds reaching up to 209 kilometers per hour (130 mph), according to China’s Xinhua news agency.
Hainan upgraded its emergency response to the highest level by midday Thursday, preparing for Yagi’s expected landfall on Friday in either Hainan or Guangdong province.
Haikou, the capital of Hainan, suspended work, school, and local transport from noon. While Yagi is forecasted to bypass Hong Kong, the city’s weather observatory issued a typhoon warning, and public transport was limited.
Schools, including kindergartens and special institutions, were closed, and several airlines, including Hong Kong Express and Greater Bay Airlines, cancelled or rescheduled flights.
Yagi is expected to impact the Pearl River Estuary by Friday morning, bringing gale-force winds. After passing through southern China, the super typhoon is predicted to move toward northern Vietnam, threatening areas such as the UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay.
Vietnam’s meteorological agency has issued storm warnings, and the government has mobilized over 2,700 military personnel to aid in storm response.
Coastal provinces plan to enforce a sailing ban, and mountainous regions are preparing rescue equipment ahead of Yagi’s arrival.