Chinese authorities have ordered mass flight cancellations and widespread business closures as Typhoon Matmo approaches southern China, threatening to disrupt one of the country’s busiest travel seasons.
According to the National Meteorological Centre (NMC), the typhoon is expected to make landfall early Sunday along the coasts of Hainan and Guangdong provinces, coinciding with the ongoing National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays — an eight-day period marked by heavy domestic travel.
State media reports that all flights at Meilan International Airport in Haikou, Hainan’s capital, will be suspended from 11 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Saturday. The airport had projected over 632,000 passengers during the October 1–8 holiday period, according to Hainan Airport Group, which manages the facility.
In preparation for the storm, Haikou authorities have also announced the suspension of schools, public transport, and construction work, while ordering businesses to close temporarily for safety.
Both Hainan and Guangdong have upgraded their emergency response levels as officials warn of torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides. Rail services in affected areas have been cancelled, and fishing boats ordered to return to port.
The NMC forecasts that Typhoon Matmo will bring winds reaching up to 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph) before weakening after landfall. Heavy rains are also expected in parts of Yunnan Province and the Guangxi region.
The storm’s arrival threatens to derail travel plans for millions of Chinese citizens journeying home or on vacation during the national holiday, raising concerns about further disruptions if flooding or infrastructure damage occurs.
