Super Typhoon Yagi is making landfall on China’s Hainan island, bringing heavy rain and powerful winds to much of the southern Chinese coastline as well as Hong Kong and Macau.

Chinese state media said 400,000 had been evacuated in Hainan as schools were closed for a second day and flights were cancelled across the region.

The storm’s windspeeds reached 245kmph this morning, making Yagi the second-most powerful tropical cyclone anywhere in the world for 2024.

The eye of storm reached the northern tip of Hainan island on Friday afternoon, weather maps showed. It is expected to impact a large swathe of China before moving off towards Vietnam and Laos over the weekend.

Hainan had relocated 419,367 residents, transport links and businesses have been shut across the region, including the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge, the world’s longest sea crossing. The storm also closed the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Four airports in northern Vietnam, including Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, have been shut.

Yagi doubled in strength after striking northern Philippines where it killed 16 people.

Scientists warn that typhoons are becoming stronger due to warmer oceans, fueled by climate crisis.