BEIJING—Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the season, made a powerful dual-landfall on the southern coast of China this week, triggering the highest-level weather alert and forcing the evacuation of approximately 347,000 residents across the region.
The storm first struck Zhanjiang City in Guangdong Province around mid-afternoon on Sunday, October 5, with maximum sustained wind speeds reaching 151 kilometers per hour (94 mph). After briefly crossing the water, it made a second landfall early on Monday, October 6, in Fangchenggang City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to China's meteorological authorities.
Massive Precautionary Response and Initial Damage
In anticipation of the severe weather, Chinese authorities issued a Red Alert—the highest warning level—and implemented widespread emergency measures. Approximately 151,000 people were evacuated in Guangdong and 197,856 in Hainan Province.
The typhoon's ferocious winds and torrential rain—with up to 300 mm (11.8 inches) of rain forecast in some areas—caused immediate disruption. In Guangdong, major highways around Zhanjiang were closed and some ferry services to Hong Kong were suspended. Hainan Province, which was also heavily impacted, cancelled flights at Haikou Meilan airport, shut down schools in high-risk zones, and suspended public transport and businesses. Power outages were reported in parts of Zhanjiang, including Suixi County, due to severe damage to the local power grid.
The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region also ordered the closure of several tourist sites. Even the distant financial hub of Hong Kong felt the storm's peripheral effects, with reports of over 100 flights delayed and 27 cancelled. The storm had also previously traversed the Philippines, where it affected over 313,000 people and damaged infrastructure, prompting thousands of evacuations there.
Government Mobilizes Relief and Recovery
China's government has rapidly mobilized resources to aid recovery efforts. Authorities dispatched 30,000 units of emergency supplies, including portable beds, moisture-proof mats, and family emergency kits, to Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi.
Furthermore, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) allocated an emergency budget of 200 million yuan (approximately $28.15 million USD) from the central government. These funds are designated for the urgent repair of critical infrastructure in the hardest-hit areas, including roads, bridges, embankments, schools, and hospitals, to expedite the return to normalcy.
Matmo Weakens, Threat Moves Inland
As of Monday morning, Matmo has begun to weaken as it moves inland. The system was downgraded to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of around 23 meters per second (51 mph) as it passed through the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and tracked northwest.
However, the threat of heavy rainfall is far from over. Chinese meteorological officials warn that heavy rains are expected to persist across inland southern areas, including Yunnan Province, Guizhou, and the Sichuan Basin, through Monday and Tuesday. Neighboring Vietnam has also been put on alert, with its weather agency warning of potential torrential rain, strong winds, and flooding in its northern provinces as the remnants of Matmo move toward the region. Forecasts indicate that parts of northern Vietnam could receive between 130-150 mm (5-6 inches) of rain on Monday, raising the risk of landslides and flash floods.
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