A new factor is emerging in the already difficult navigation between Asia and Europe, strained by the Red Sea crisis and bad weather in South Africa. Typhoon Yagi is currently raging in the South China Sea, moving towards southern China and northern Vietnam. In the past 24 hours, Yagi has significantly intensified, briefly reaching super typhoon status. The average wind speed has risen to a remarkable 240 km/h, with even higher gusts.
Yagi is expected to make its first landfall on Friday, September 6, 2024, north of Hainan Island, on the Leizhou Peninsula, with wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h. The following day, it is predicted to hit the northern coast of Vietnam or the border region with China. In addition to extreme wind speeds, the typhoon will generate a one-meter-high storm surge along coastal areas and bring heavy, moisture-laden air masses with intense rainfall.
Due to these factors, Yagi is expected to have a significant impact on maritime navigation in the South China Sea and coastal areas of southern China and northern Vietnam. Some ports in the region, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Hainan, will likely have to suspend operations during the peak of the typhoon, leading to the cancellation of ferry services, cruises, and maritime transport operations. Weather conditions may also slow down cargo ships passing through the area.
