Hainan suspends transport as Typhoon Fengshen approaches

Transport services across China's southern island province of Hainan have been suspended as Typhoon Fengshen moves through the South China Sea, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.

All train services to and from Hainan have been halted for Tuesday, according to Hainan Railway Co. Operations at Haikou Xinhai Port, Xiuying Port, and South Railway Port were suspended from 2 pm on Monday, with services expected to resume on Thursday morning.

According to maritime authorities, cruise services between Hainan and the Xisha Islands, as well as the Xisha supply route, were stopped on Monday morning. Night tour routes in Haikou and Sanya have also been suspended, and tourist trips to Sanya's Wuzhizhou and Xidao islands will cease from Tuesday.

The Hainan Maritime Safety Administration has launched a Level IV emergency response for typhoon prevention, which comes with safety measures for more than 1,900 vessels across local ports.

As of Monday morning, Typhoon Fengshen's maximum sustained winds reached force 9 on the Beaufort scale, according to China's national observatory.

Meteorologists forecast the storm will move west-northwest at a speed of about 25 kilometers per hour while gradually intensifying. It is expected to reach its peak strength as a severe tropical storm or typhoon, with the winds hitting up to 12 on the Beaufort scale.

By Tuesday, Fengshen is expected to turn southwest over the central and northern waters of the South China Sea, passing northwest of the Xisha Islands before heading toward the central coast of Vietnam, where it will begin to weaken.

Strong winds and heavy rainfall are forecast from Monday through Thursday morning across the central and northern South China Sea and most waters off Hainan. The eastern half of Hainan is also expected to face severe storm conditions between Tuesday and Thursday.