Typhoon Talim struck the coasts of Guangdong province in China and Vietnam, prompting the evacuation of approximately a quarter million people and causing significant disruptions to transportation and tourism. With maximum wind speeds of 136.8 kilometers per hour, the storm made landfall on July 17, bringing storm surges and heavy rainfall to provinces from Guangdong to Hainan. As a precautionary measure, an orange alert, the second-highest warning level in the four-tier color-coded system, was issued prior to the typhoon’s arrival. In Guangdong, nearly 230,000 individuals were evacuated, including over 8,000 workers from fish farms who were brought ashore.
Coastal tourist destinations were closed to ensure the safety of visitors. Moving northwest at a speed of approximately 20 kilometers per hour, Typhoon Talim was projected to pass through the Guangxi region on July 18. However, the storm was expected to lose speed and “weaken and dissipate over northern Vietnam” on July 19, according to China’s weather agency. Vietnamese authorities have taken measures to evacuate around 30,000 individuals from vulnerable areas in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces. The storm is anticipated to be one of the most significant to impact the Gulf of Tonkin in recent years, as highlighted by Vietnam’s top disaster response committee.
In response to the approaching typhoon, tourists were advised to leave outlying islands, and airlines adjusted their schedules accordingly. The impact was felt beyond the immediate affected areas, with trading on Hong Kong’s $5.2 trillion stock market being cancelled on July 17 due to concerns of possible flooding in low-lying areas caused by storm surges. Transportation systems faced considerable disruptions. Over 1,000 travelers were affected by flight cancellations and delays, as reported by the Hong Kong Airport Authority. In Guangdong and Hainan, hundreds of trains were suspended, and ferry services between Hainan and Guangdong were also put on hold.
Authorities in Hainan island requested nearby ships to return to port for safety reasons. Yunfu city in Guangdong province witnessed the evacuation of at least 1,000 people, according to the state-backed Southern Daily. The impact of Typhoon Talim highlights the importance of early preparedness and response efforts in the face of such natural disasters. As the storm continues its trajectory, local authorities in both China and Vietnam are closely monitoring its progression and taking necessary steps to mitigate potential risks to residents and infrastructure. The safety and well-being of those in the affected regions remain paramount as efforts to minimize the storm’s impact continue.