CHINA / SOCIETY
China activates emergency response as Typhoon Matmo batters coastal regions
By Xinhua Published: Oct 06, 2025 08:49 AM
A tree pushed over by strong wind during typhoon Matmo is pictured by a street in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, made landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province around 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to Guangdong's meteorological service. Heavily affected by Matmo, many parts of Hainan Island, which sits to the south of Guangdong, still suffer from strong wind and rainfall late on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

A tree pushed over by strong wind during typhoon Matmo is pictured by a street in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, made landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province around 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to Guangdong's meteorological service. Heavily affected by Matmo, many parts of Hainan Island, which sits to the south of Guangdong, still suffer from strong wind and rainfall late on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua


China activated a Level-IV national disaster relief emergency response on Sunday as Typhoon Matmo -- the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season -- battered the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

The national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief has dispatched working groups to the affected areas to guide disaster rescue operations.

The Ministry of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, has sent an additional 20,000 items of disaster relief supplies to Guangdong and Hainan, and 10,000 items to Guangxi.

The supplies include folding beds, moisture-proof mats and family emergency kits.

Additionally, the National Development and Reform Commission has urgently allocated 200 million yuan (about 28.15 million U.S. dollars) of central budgetary investment to support Guangdong and Hainan in emergency post-typhoon recovery efforts.

The funds will be primarily used for the restoration and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and public service facilities in the affected areas, including roads, bridges, embankments, schools and hospitals, to accelerate the return to normal production and daily life.

According to local authorities, approximately 347,000 people have been evacuated in Guangdong and Hainan to ensure safety.

Beer bottles smashed due to strong wind during typhoon Matmo are pictured outside a store in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, made landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province around 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to Guangdong's meteorological service. Heavily affected by Matmo, many parts of Hainan Island, which sits to the south of Guangdong, still suffer from strong wind and rainfall late on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Beer bottles smashed due to strong wind during typhoon Matmo are pictured outside a store in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, made landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province around 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to Guangdong's meteorological service.

Heavily affected by Matmo, many parts of Hainan Island, which sits to the south of Guangdong, still suffer from strong wind and rainfall late on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua


 
A tree pushed over by strong wind during typhoon Matmo is pictured by a street in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, made landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province around 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to Guangdong's meteorological service. Heavily affected by Matmo, many parts of Hainan Island, which sits to the south of Guangdong, still suffer from strong wind and rainfall late on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

A tree pushed over by strong wind during typhoon Matmo is pictured by a street in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, made landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province around 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to Guangdong's meteorological service.

Heavily affected by Matmo, many parts of Hainan Island, which sits to the south of Guangdong, still suffer from strong wind and rainfall late on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua


 
Motor vehicles plough through a flooded street in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, made landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province around 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to Guangdong's meteorological service. Heavily affected by Matmo, many parts of Hainan Island, which sits to the south of Guangdong, still suffer from strong wind and rainfall late on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Motor vehicles plough through a flooded street in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 5, 2025. Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, made landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province around 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to Guangdong's meteorological service.

Heavily affected by Matmo, many parts of Hainan Island, which sits to the south of Guangdong, still suffer from strong wind and rainfall late on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua