China has activated a Level-IV emergency response as Typhoon Matmo approaches the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan, bringing high winds and torrential rain just as the country experiences peak travel during the National Day holiday. The Ministry of Emergency Management confirmed on Saturday that the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters issued directives to local governments to initiate flood prevention and disaster response protocols. These include urban water drainage management, coastal safety measures, and safeguarding of tourists currently traveling in the region.
China’s National Meteorological Center upgraded its alert to orange, the second-highest level in its four-tier warning system. At 8 a.m. Saturday, the center reported Typhoon Matmo to be moving northwest over the South China Sea at 25 to 30 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds near 118 kilometers per hour. The storm is forecast to make landfall on Sunday between Wanning in Hainan Province and Dianbai in western Guangdong. Flight and ferry services have been disrupted across the affected areas.
Authorities in Hainan ordered the suspension of operations at Haikou Meilan International Airport beginning Saturday night, with dozens of flights canceled. Maritime administrations in Sanya and other coastal cities have suspended ferry services, particularly to and from tourist destinations such as the Qiongzhou Strait. Local governments in cities including Haikou, Zhanjiang, and Sanya have issued notices halting classes, suspending public transportation, and closing non-essential businesses.
Travel and transport suspended in Hainan and Guangdong
Emergency response teams have been deployed in multiple locations, and temporary shelters have been prepared in anticipation of flooding in low-lying and coastal zones. Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected to impact wide areas of southern China, including parts of the Bashi Channel, eastern Hainan, southern Taiwan, and the coastal waters of Guangdong. Forecasters warned of potential storm surges, inland flooding, and river overflow in regions along the storm’s projected path.
The timing of the storm coincides with China’s eight-day National Day holiday, during which an estimated 2.3 billion domestic trips are expected nationwide. Tourism and transportation authorities have been coordinating with emergency management offices to manage the risk of stranded passengers and logistical delays. Transport hubs in Guangdong and Hainan reported higher-than-usual volumes on Friday as travelers attempted to reroute or cancel travel plans ahead of the storm’s landfall. Typhoon Matmo is the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season.
No casualties reported as Matmo nears mainland China
It previously passed over the northern Philippines, where evacuation measures were carried out for several thousand residents. The storm weakened temporarily while moving through the Luzon Strait but regained strength over open water in the South China Sea. China operates a four-level emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe. Its weather alert system ranges from blue, the least severe, to red, the highest warning level. The current Level-IV response for Matmo indicates a moderate risk, but the combination of the storm’s intensity, projected path, and the holiday travel peak has prompted additional caution.
The Ministry of Emergency Management confirmed that state-owned utility, transport, and communication providers have been placed on alert to ensure the stability of power and network services in the impacted areas. Local command centers have been activated to coordinate evacuation efforts, monitor river water levels, and deploy rescue teams if required. As of Saturday afternoon, no casualties or major infrastructure damage had been reported on the mainland. Meteorological authorities continue to issue hourly updates, with monitoring stations in Guangdong and Hainan tracking the storm’s progression closely. – By Content Syndication Services.