TROPICAL STORM WIPHA THREATENS CHINA AFTER SLAMMING TAIWAN, PHILIPPINES
Tropical Storm Wipha is intensifying in the western Pacific as it moves toward southern China, after lashing parts of Taiwan and the northern Philippines with strong winds and torrential rains. The storm, which formed earlier in the week, has already caused significant flooding, power outages, and displacement in areas it has passed through, with authorities across East and Southeast Asia issuing alerts and mobilizing emergency response units.
Wipha made its first major landfall in the northern Philippines on Friday, bringing with it sustained winds of up to 85 km/h (53 mph) and gusts surpassing 100 km/h (62 mph). In Luzon, the country’s largest and most populous island, heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides, killing at least 9 people and displacing over 20,000 residents. Several provinces, including Isabela and Cagayan, reported collapsed homes, blocked roads, and damaged rice fields as emergency crews rushed to assist the hardest-hit communities.
The storm then swept across the Taiwan Strait, slamming into eastern Taiwan on Saturday. Wind speeds intensified slightly as the storm fed off warm ocean currents, with downpours submerging parts of Taipei and surrounding cities. Schools and government offices were closed across much of the island, and more than 300 domestic and international flights were canceled or delayed. Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau issued landslide and flash flood warnings for mountainous regions, particularly Hualien and Yilan counties. No fatalities have been reported in Taiwan so far, though authorities remain on high alert for potential aftereffects.
Now, Wipha is tracking northwest toward China’s southern coastline, with landfall expected in Guangdong or Hainan provinces within the next 48 hours. Chinese meteorological agencies have issued yellow alerts — the third-highest level — warning residents to prepare for flooding, wind damage, and possible infrastructure disruptions. Urban centers like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Haikou are bracing for impact, with emergency teams preparing evacuation plans in low-lying and coastal areas. Fishing fleets have been ordered to return to port, and construction projects in vulnerable areas have been temporarily suspended.
The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management is coordinating nationwide preparations, while the National Meteorological Center is closely monitoring the storm’s path. Officials fear that Wipha’s slow movement could cause prolonged rainfall, raising the risk of river overflows and urban flooding, especially in densely populated coastal cities.
In recent years, East Asia has experienced increasingly frequent and severe tropical storms, raising concerns among scientists about the impact of climate change on weather patterns in the region. Wipha’s current trajectory and behavior follow a trend of storms intensifying more quickly and bringing heavier rainfall than in past decades.
As Tropical Storm Wipha bears down on China, millions of people remain in its projected path. Authorities are urging the public to stay indoors, monitor weather updates, and follow evacuation orders if issued. While the full extent of damage in Taiwan and the Philippines is still being assessed, the focus now shifts to ensuring safety and preparedness across southern China ahead of Wipha’s anticipated landfall.