Hainan, China's tropical island, rebounds from devastating super typhoon impact
China's tropical island Hainan is in the process of recovering following the impact of a super typhoon.
TroibNews 
Hainan, China's southernmost province, is in the process of recovery following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yagi. Workers are busy repairing damaged facilities and pumping out floodwaters, as airports in Sanya and Haikou have reopened.
Yagi, noted as the most powerful autumn typhoon to strike China since 1949, made landfall in Hainan on Friday, resulting in at least four fatalities and 95 injuries.
In the wake of the disaster, officials, firefighters, police, and citizens have teamed up to restore normalcy throughout the province.
"More than 300 Party member volunteers were mobilized this morning to clear uprooted trees and address waterlogged streets," stated Chen Hong, a cadre from Xiuying Subdistrict in Haikou, the provincial capital, on Saturday.
By Saturday evening, transportation services including markets, taxis, ride-hailing, and buses began resuming their operations in Haikou, with businesses, factories, and construction sites cleared to reopen on Sunday.
"We want to help everyone in need, and we haven't raised prices a single cent," remarked Zhou Chongsheng, a local shop owner.
Despite these efforts, by Sunday night, 769,000 households in Hainan still faced power outages. Additionally, over 10,000 workers from Guangdong, Guizhou, and Guangxi arrived to provide assistance. Water shortages impacted 63,000 residents in Haikou, while telecommunication services were anticipated to stabilize by Tuesday.
Schools have been significantly affected, with 2,085 institutions lacking both water and electricity across the province. Authorities aim to reopen over 80 percent of schools by Monday, though those sustaining greater damage will have delayed reopening, according to Chen Zhenhua, deputy head of the provincial education department.
Ongoing efforts to clear debris and restore infrastructure include a kindergarten in Haikou, where principal Ding Ying rallied teachers and local volunteers to remove fallen trees and prepare the playground for the children’s return.
"We plan to craft tree stumps into small benches for the children," Ding mentioned.
In a heartening turn of events, 247 healthy "typhoon babies" were born in Haikou over the past week. Since September 3, special maternity care facilities have been set up to facilitate safe deliveries, with nearly 900 pregnant women granted free hospital stays in the area.
"The local government made thorough preparations," noted Ye Baoquan, Party secretary of Pulong Village in Wenchang City. "Shelters were stocked with emergency supplies like foldable beds, food, generators and life jackets. Rescue teams were on standby, which helped everyone feel more secure."
To manage the situation, the Hainan provincial government dispatched 18 senior officials to oversee local emergency response efforts, facilitating the evacuation of over 460,000 residents and bringing more than 34,000 fishing boats back to port.
In times of crisis such as this, members of the Communist Party of China frequently take a leading role in recovery efforts, setting an example with their hands-on involvement.
Experts highlighted that Yagi has eclipsed the impact of Super Typhoon Rammasun, which struck Hainan in 2014, in both intensity and duration.
The estimated losses in the agricultural, livestock, and fishing sectors due to Super Typhoon Yagi amount to 11.95 billion yuan. Seven recovery teams have been deployed to the worst-hit areas to provide post-disaster assistance in Hainan.
Cao Shuyu, deputy director of the Department of Finance of Hainan Province, indicated that approximately 1.19 billion yuan has been allocated for disaster relief and reconstruction.
Fishermen have begun the process of cleaning their boats, and evacuated residents are starting to return home.
"We made the necessary preparations, which minimized our losses," asserted Wang Youchun, a fisherman from Haikou. "Now, we're all working together to prepare for the next trip out to sea."
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
Yagi, noted as the most powerful autumn typhoon to strike China since 1949, made landfall in Hainan on Friday, resulting in at least four fatalities and 95 injuries.
In the wake of the disaster, officials, firefighters, police, and citizens have teamed up to restore normalcy throughout the province.
"More than 300 Party member volunteers were mobilized this morning to clear uprooted trees and address waterlogged streets," stated Chen Hong, a cadre from Xiuying Subdistrict in Haikou, the provincial capital, on Saturday.
By Saturday evening, transportation services including markets, taxis, ride-hailing, and buses began resuming their operations in Haikou, with businesses, factories, and construction sites cleared to reopen on Sunday.
"We want to help everyone in need, and we haven't raised prices a single cent," remarked Zhou Chongsheng, a local shop owner.
Despite these efforts, by Sunday night, 769,000 households in Hainan still faced power outages. Additionally, over 10,000 workers from Guangdong, Guizhou, and Guangxi arrived to provide assistance. Water shortages impacted 63,000 residents in Haikou, while telecommunication services were anticipated to stabilize by Tuesday.
Schools have been significantly affected, with 2,085 institutions lacking both water and electricity across the province. Authorities aim to reopen over 80 percent of schools by Monday, though those sustaining greater damage will have delayed reopening, according to Chen Zhenhua, deputy head of the provincial education department.
Ongoing efforts to clear debris and restore infrastructure include a kindergarten in Haikou, where principal Ding Ying rallied teachers and local volunteers to remove fallen trees and prepare the playground for the children’s return.
"We plan to craft tree stumps into small benches for the children," Ding mentioned.
In a heartening turn of events, 247 healthy "typhoon babies" were born in Haikou over the past week. Since September 3, special maternity care facilities have been set up to facilitate safe deliveries, with nearly 900 pregnant women granted free hospital stays in the area.
"The local government made thorough preparations," noted Ye Baoquan, Party secretary of Pulong Village in Wenchang City. "Shelters were stocked with emergency supplies like foldable beds, food, generators and life jackets. Rescue teams were on standby, which helped everyone feel more secure."
To manage the situation, the Hainan provincial government dispatched 18 senior officials to oversee local emergency response efforts, facilitating the evacuation of over 460,000 residents and bringing more than 34,000 fishing boats back to port.
In times of crisis such as this, members of the Communist Party of China frequently take a leading role in recovery efforts, setting an example with their hands-on involvement.
Experts highlighted that Yagi has eclipsed the impact of Super Typhoon Rammasun, which struck Hainan in 2014, in both intensity and duration.
The estimated losses in the agricultural, livestock, and fishing sectors due to Super Typhoon Yagi amount to 11.95 billion yuan. Seven recovery teams have been deployed to the worst-hit areas to provide post-disaster assistance in Hainan.
Cao Shuyu, deputy director of the Department of Finance of Hainan Province, indicated that approximately 1.19 billion yuan has been allocated for disaster relief and reconstruction.
Fishermen have begun the process of cleaning their boats, and evacuated residents are starting to return home.
"We made the necessary preparations, which minimized our losses," asserted Wang Youchun, a fisherman from Haikou. "Now, we're all working together to prepare for the next trip out to sea."
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
