Typhoon Haikui swept through the coastlines of Fujian and Guangdong in southeast China on Tuesday morning, marking the season’s eleventh major storm. The system triggered a dangerous incident that left at least three people unaccounted for after a fire truck carrying nine crew members plunged into a river in Yongtai County. Rescuers retrieved six survivors, with three individuals still missing as authorities continued the search.
The cyclone first made landfall in Dongshan County, Fujian, around 05:20 local time, about 2120 GMT on Monday, before edging toward Guangdong’s Raoping County by 06:45, roughly 2245 GMT. Haikui carried winds ranging from 18 to 20 meters per second, with meteorologists noting a gradual westward shift at a pace of 10 to 15 kilometers per hour as the system weakens over time. Local observers issued warnings and prepared for further weather changes as the storm moved inland.
In response, authorities enacted precautionary measures across coastal districts, evacuating people from sea areas east of Huizhou in Guangdong. Dozens of thousands took shelter while thousands of boats were kept ashore or moved to safer anchored locations. Transportation disruption was swift: more than 500 trains in Guangzhou were canceled, alongside interruptions to 23 cruise lines operating east of Huizhou, as officials intensified flood and typhoon prevention efforts. Education authorities suspended classes in Shantou and Chaozhou to minimize risk for students and families.
Prior to reaching mainland China, Haikui lashed Taiwan, arriving on Sunday with sustained winds peaking near 101 kilometers per hour and gusts approaching 126 kilometers per hour. Local authorities in Taiwan reported evacuation of more than 3,000 residents in the hardest-hit zones and widespread power outages that affected over 74,000 homes after heavy rains accumulated up to 700 millimeters in southern regions. These impacts underscored the broader risk profile of Haikui as it traversed the Western Pacific and pressed toward the mainland.
Experts describe Haikui as part of an especially active East Asian typhoon season, a pattern that has raised concerns among emergency managers and residents alike. The storm’s path and intensity have prompted ongoing updates to forecasts and intensified preparedness campaigns, with authorities urging continued vigilance in affected provinces as conditions evolve and resources remain on standby for rescue, recovery, and relief operations.