Typhoon Matmo strengthens, prompting mass evacuations of people in Southern China

Typhoon Matmo strengthens, prompting mass evacuations of people in Southern China
Typhoon Matmo hit Qingdao, Shandong province July 25, 2014
Reuters

Typhoon Matmo intensified as it approached southern China, prompting authorities to evacuate approximately 347,000 residents across Guangdong and Hainan provinces.

The storm made landfall on Sunday afternoon in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, with sustained winds reaching 151 km/h.

In response, China's National Meteorological Center issued a red-level typhoon warning, the highest in its system.

The timing of the typhoon disrupted travel plans during China's peak National Day holiday, during which approximately 2.36 billion trips were expected. Flights and ferries in Hainan, a popular holiday destination, were cancelled from Saturday evening, and classes, public transportation, and businesses were suspended.

The storm also caused severe flooding in the Philippines, affecting more than 220,000 people, though no major casualties were reported.

Matmo is expected to continue moving westward and northward toward northern Vietnam and Yunnan in China. 

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