Typhoon Matmo Strikes Southern China, Prompting Massive Evacuations

As of October 5, 2025, Typhoon Matmo has struck the southern coast of China, making landfall between the cities of Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan. The powerful storm, which has been classified as a severe system, has prompted the evacuation of over 150,000 people from high-risk and coastal areas in the affected provinces.

Authorities in Guangdong have reported that nearly 10,000 people were evacuated from maritime zones, while more than 10,000 emergency and rescue personnel have been deployed across the province. The provincial deputy party secretary, Meng Fanli, has urged local officials to "swiftly go into battle mode" and ensure "no casualties and minimal losses" during the National Day and Mid-Autumn holidays, a peak travel season in the region.

Similar measures have been taken in parts of Hainan, including the capital Haikou and the coastal city of Wenchang, where schools, workplaces, ferry routes, and scenic spots have been temporarily closed. All trains on Hainan Island have been suspended, and flights to and from Haikou Meilian International Airport have been cancelled since Saturday evening, with a gradual resumption expected later on Sunday.

The storm is expected to weaken as it moves inland towards China's Yunnan province and northern Vietnam, but authorities have warned of heavy rainfall of up to 249mm in some areas, raising the risk of flooding and landslides.