Typhoon Matmo, the 21st storm of the year, slammed into southern China on October 5, 2025. It made landfall in Guangdong Province around 2:50 PM local time. The typhoon brought powerful winds, reaching 151 kilometers per hour near its center. This storm sparked a huge effort to move people to safety.
Before hitting the coast directly, Matmo had already battered the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island. High waves and strong winds caused sea water to rush into harbors, shops, and coastal areas. Fishing ports saw especially high water levels. Many residents had to leave their homes in a hurry. For safety, some areas also lost power and water services. CCTV, China’s official broadcaster, showed scenes of heavy rain and huge waves. Trees were seen broken in many cities across Guangdong and Hainan. Fishing boats quickly headed for shelter in crowded ports.
Mass Evacuation Efforts
Authorities took swift action, ordering over 400,000 people to evacuate. Guangdong Province alone moved more than 271,500 residents. On Hainan Island, another 197,000 people left their homes in risky areas. These numbers highlight the serious threat posed by the typhoon.
Officials issued a “red” typhoon alert and an “orange” heavy rain alert. These are the top two warnings in the country’s four-level system. Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi provinces quickly raised their emergency plans to the highest level. They worked hard to protect communities from the storm’s fury.
Widespread Closures and Disruptions
Life in the affected regions came to a halt. In Haikou city, schools, government offices, businesses, and public transportation shut down for at least a day. Haikou Meilan International Airport canceled all flights. Several important sea-crossing bridges also closed to traffic.
Further west, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, all passenger boat routes stopped running. More than 26,000 tourists were moved from Weizhou Island. Marine officials ordered over 20,000 fishing boats back to port. They also helped 4,000 oil rig workers find safety on land. Thousands of rescue workers were sent ahead of the storm. They stood ready to help anyone caught in severe conditions. So far, there are no reports of deaths or missing people from this powerful typhoon.