Severe Tropical Storm Wutip makes landfall near Leizhou City in Guangdong after leaving 4 dead in Vietnam

Severe Tropical Storm Wutip made a second landfall near Leizhou City in south China’s Guangdong Province at around 00:30 local time (LT) on June 14 with an estimated minimum central pressure of around 980 hPa and maximum sustained winds of up to 108 km/h (68 mph).

Authorities in Guangdong province evacuated more than 10 000 people, closed schools and canceled flights, trains, and vessels on Friday.

Typhoon Wutip, the first typhoon of this year, made its second landfall near Leizhou City in south China's Guangdong Province at around 12:30 Saturday, according to the provincial meteorological observatory. https://t.co/Ffcp3Jjj5j pic.twitter.com/iZEhr9NKLS

— CCTV+ (@CCTV_Plus) June 14, 2025

Typhoon Wutip, the first typhoon of the year,just made landfall in Zhanjiang, #Guangdong. It has unleashed heavy downpours and strong gales across southern regions on Friday.#typhoon #Weather pic.twitter.com/ubjP5bOIAk

— Record GBA (@RecordGBA) June 14, 2025

As of 20:00 LT on June 14, Wutip was located in Beiliu city in Guangxi Province, and is forecast to continue moving northeastwards at 25 to 30 km/h (15 to 18 mph), as it continues to weaken.

From 20:00 LT on June 14 to 20:00 LT on June 15, heavy to torrential rain is expected in parts of south-central and eastern South China, as well as central and east Jiangnan.

Some areas in eastern Guangxi, western and northern Guangdong, southeastern Hunan, and central to northern Jiangxi are forecast to experience very heavy rainfall. Local extremely heavy rainstorms could bring totals of 250–300 mm (10–12 inches) in parts of these areas.

Wutip is the first named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season and the first typhoon ever to form in the Gulf of Tonkin during the month of June.

It made its first landfall near Dongfang City in south China’s island province of Hainan around 23:00 LT on June 13. In preparation, authorities in Ledong Li autonomous county in the southwest of Hainan had relocated 1 325 people to safety by 09:00 LT on June 13, with temporary shelters being established for pregnant women in mountainous and coastal areas.

Sixteen cities and counties suspended classes, with schools in the resort city of Sanya dismissing students in phases. Those unable to leave were placed under supervision with provisions.

Sanya escalated its emergency response to a Level II on the evening of June 12— the second-highest tier in a four-tier system — closing tourist sites, shopping malls and restaurants, halting work at construction sites but keeping supermarkets and markets open for essentials.

Reports indicate that the city received 565.7 mm (22.27 inches) of rainfall in 24 hours due to Wutip’s impact on June 13.

At the Luhuitou scenic area, crews reinforced trees, cleared drains, and prepared sandbags. “We’ve deployed a 20-member emergency team to handle hazards,” said the area’s assistant general manager Li Fengfa.

Around 698 trees had fallen citywide, with crews replanting 187 of them on the morning of June 13. The Haikou Meilan International Airport canceled 139 flights, and all ferry crossings through the Qiongzhou Strait have been suspended since June 12, stranding 1 200 trucks near ports.

Typhoon Wutip made landfall in Hainan on the evening of June 13. Affected by the typhoon, Hainan recorded a maximum gust of 34.4m/s. Sanya received 565.7mm of rainfall in 24 hours, breaking the city record! pic.twitter.com/vW89wUlgwM

— Jim (@yangyubin1998) June 14, 2025

Before making landfall in China,  Wutip severely affected central Vietnam, bringing heavy rain, flooding, major airport disruptions, coastal wave surges, and early-stage wind impacts, setting the stage for its continued strength as it approached southern China.

From 19:00 LT on Tuesday, June 10 to 16:00 LT on Wednesday, June 11, rainfall totals in Quảng Bình, Quảng Ngãi, and Kon Tum provinces ranged from 200 to 300 mm (8 to 12 inches), with localized amounts between 350 and 550 mm (14 to 22 inches).

The most severe impacts were reported in Quảng Trị, Quảng Bình, Quảng Nam, and Đà Nẵng. In Quảng Trị province, widespread flooding affected approximately 3 575 homes, with 2 770 of those severely inundated. Significant damage to housing was also reported in Hà Tĩnh, where at least 27 houses lost their roofs, and one home was destroyed in Quảng Trị.

Local authorities recorded three fatalities in Quảng Trị: two during flood prevention operations in Triệu Phong district, and one by drowning in Hải Lăng district. Four people were reported missing in Quảng Bình province.

Floodwaters disrupted transportation across the region, submerging major roads and isolating several communities. In Đà Nẵng, the storm triggered 38 landslides, causing traffic interruptions and complicating emergency response operations. Airports in central provinces, including Đà Nẵng International Airport, experienced multiple flight cancellations and turnbacks due to adverse weather, stranding thousands of passengers.

Preliminary assessments indicated that approximately 88 700 ha (219 200 acres) of rice and other crops were inundated across the affected provinces. Aquaculture was also impacted, with nearly 1 800 ha (4 450 acres) of fish farms and shrimp ponds damaged, primarily in Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Quảng Nam, and Đà Nẵng.

High winds near the Gulf of Tonkin, with sustained speeds between 103 and 133 km/h (64 to 83 mph) and gusts reaching up to 166 km/h (103 mph), caused additional damage along the coast.

Many areas were left without power and water supplies for extended periods.