A powerful typhoon named Talim has made landfall in China’s Guangdong province, leading to the evacuation of nearly 230,000 people from their homes. This marks the fourth typhoon to hit the region this year, bringing winds of nearly 140km/h (87mph) as it struck the southern coast.
The typhoon caused storm surges along the coast and resulted in the cancellation of numerous flights and trains due to fierce winds and heavy rainfall. In the aftermath of the storm, a whale was washed ashore, drawing attention from passers-by in a video circulating on Chinese social media.
Vietnam also braced for the impact of Typhoon Talim, with approximately 30,000 people being evacuated in the Quang Ninh and Hai Phong regions, which were expected to be the hardest hit.
The China Meteorological Administration issued an orange alert, the second-highest warning level in its four-tier system, as Talim made landfall at around 10:20 local time (14:20 GMT). The typhoon is expected to lose speed by Tuesday morning and weaken as it moves towards northern Vietnam.
The evacuation efforts in Guangdong included relocating over 8,000 fish-farm workers from offshore facilities. Local authorities also closed numerous coastal tourist destinations as a precautionary measure.
The National Meteorological Centre of China stated that Talim could potentially make a second landfall in the coastal area of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Tuesday morning after moving to the Beibu Gulf in the South China Sea. The local marine forecasting station in Hainan province warned of waves up to six meters (20 feet) in height.