Cairo, Egypt – Chinese authorities in Guangdong Province, in the south of the country, have raised their emergency alert level to the highest level in preparation for the violent Typhoon Matmo, which continues to rapidly advance towards the southern coast. There are fears that it will leave behind widespread destruction in the coming hours.
Chinese broadcaster CGTN reported that local authorities issued urgent orders. More than 150,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable coastal areas as a precautionary measure to protect lives. All fishing boats were ordered to return to ports and all marine or tourist activities were prohibited until further notice.
Matmo is classified as one of the strongest cyclones of the 2025 Pacific hurricane season. It is the 21st cyclone of the year and is currently moving northwest at approximately 25 kilometers per hour. Forecasts indicate that it will make landfall around noon on Sunday. It will be accompanied by strong winds reaching 45 meters per second and heavy rains that could cause flooding and landslides in several coastal cities.
The Chinese Meteorological Administration warned that the typhoon’s impact would not be limited to the coasts. It could also extend to inland areas in neighboring provinces, with power outages and transportation disruptions expected.
Authorities called on citizens to stay in their homes and stock up on food and water. They urged them to avoid going out except in cases of extreme necessity, stressing that rescue and emergency teams were fully prepared to deal with any emergency.
Matmo brings to mind the violent typhoons that struck the region in recent years. These typhoons caused significant human and material losses, prompting Chinese authorities to handle the storm with extreme caution this time. They have strict preemptive plans in place to minimize potential damage.
