As Typhoon Fengshen barrels through the South China Sea, Hainan Province has taken decisive action to ensure public safety by suspending all transport services. The typhoon, characterized by its strong winds and heavy rainfall, has prompted Hainan Railway Co. to halt all train operations to and from the island on Tuesday. Additionally, key ports including Haikou Xinhai Port, Xiuying Port, and South Railway Port ceased operations from 2 pm on Monday, with services anticipated to resume by Thursday morning.
Maritime authorities have also implemented precautionary measures, suspending cruise services between Hainan and the Xisha Islands, as well as the Xisha supply route, starting Monday morning. Night tour routes in Haikou and Sanya have been halted, and tourist trips to Sanya’s Wuzhizhou and Xidao islands will be suspended from Tuesday.
The Hainan Maritime Safety Administration has activated a Level IV emergency response for typhoon prevention, implementing safety protocols for over 1,900 vessels across local ports. As of Monday morning, Typhoon Fengshen’s maximum sustained winds reached force 9 on the Beaufort scale, according to China’s national observatory.
Meteorologists predict the storm will continue to intensify as it moves west-northwest at approximately 25 kilometers per hour. It is expected to peak as a severe tropical storm or typhoon, with winds potentially reaching force 12 on the Beaufort scale. By Tuesday, Fengshen is forecast to turn southwest over the central and northern waters of the South China Sea, passing northwest of the Xisha Islands before heading toward Vietnam’s central coast, where it will gradually weaken.
Residents and travelers in Hainan are advised to prepare for severe weather conditions, including strong winds and heavy rainfall, which are expected to persist from Monday through Thursday morning across the central and northern South China Sea and most waters off Hainan. The eastern half of Hainan is particularly at risk of facing severe storm conditions between Tuesday and Thursday.