Enviro News Asia, Beijing — The Chinese government has declared a Level IV national emergency response on Sunday (October 5) following the landfall of Typhoon Matmo, the 21st tropical storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, which battered the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan. The swift measure aims to strengthen coordination in disaster response across heavily affected coastal regions.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, the National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction, and Relief has dispatched special teams to assist local authorities with rescue and recovery operations. The typhoon brought heavy rainfall and high waves, causing infrastructure damage and disrupting the lives of coastal residents.
As part of the emergency response, 20,000 disaster relief units have been sent to Guangdong and Hainan, along with 10,000 additional units to Guangxi. The supplies—comprising folding beds, moisture-proof mats, and family emergency kits—were provided through collaboration between the Ministry of Emergency Management and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.
Meanwhile, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has allocated 200 million yuan (approximately US$28.15 million) from the central budget to expedite post-typhoon recovery. The funds will be used to restore key infrastructure and public facilities, including roads, bridges, embankments, schools, and hospitals, to help communities return to normal life as quickly as possible.
Local authorities reported that at least 347,000 residents had been evacuated from high-risk areas in Guangdong and Hainan as a precautionary measure. The government continues to monitor weather conditions closely while ensuring the safety and basic needs of affected populations.
Typhoon Matmo stands among the most powerful storms to hit southern China this year, underscoring the growing importance of national preparedness in facing intensifying extreme weather events across East Asia. (*)
