Haikou, Hainan—Electricity, water, and telecommunications services are being rapidly restored across China’s island province of Hainan after Super Typhoon Yagi caused widespread disruption, leaving four dead and 95 injured.
“People have generally calmed down,” said Jiang Jianmin, deputy head of publicity at the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, during a press conference on Sunday. “Now we are trying to recover from the disaster.”
The Hainan Power Grid Corporation is working tirelessly to reinstate power to affected areas. “Our employees cannot use air conditioners or fridges just like our clients, so we can feel the urgency,” said Zhao Youcheng, a representative from the company. “We have restored supply to 910,000 of the 1.68 million affected clients.” He added that priority is being given to key infrastructure such as water suppliers, hospitals, and schools.
Telecommunications have also been severely impacted, with over a quarter of cell sites taken offline by the typhoon, according to Chen Xingwu, deputy head of communications in Hainan Province. As of 6 p.m. on Sunday, nearly half of the offline base stations have been brought back online, totaling 14,000 operational sites. Chen advised those experiencing weak cell phone signals to use landline phones and fixed broadband internet connections as temporary alternatives.
Water supply systems in cities like Wenchang and Haikou suffered significant damage. Despite ongoing restoration efforts, approximately 63,000 residents in 125 residential areas remain without water. Local authorities estimate that full restoration will occur around midnight.
In preparation for and response to the typhoon, Hainan Province allocated 1.1 billion yuan ($160 million) in funding prior to the disaster’s arrival. “With support from the central government, we have further allocated over 1.18 billion yuan ($170 million) for disaster relief,” stated Cai Shuyu, deputy head of finance in Hainan.
Super Typhoon Yagi’s impact on Hainan underscores the province’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and highlights the importance of efficient emergency response mechanisms. The ongoing restoration efforts reflect the commitment of local authorities and utility companies to return normalcy to the lives of Hainan’s residents.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
