Typhoon Yagi (storm number 3) blew away security booths and rolling doors in China

With winds of up to 234 km/h, Yagi is the strongest autumn typhoon to ever hit China, according to the country's national meteorological agency. Yagi made landfall on Hainan Island on the afternoon of September 6 and in Guangdong that same evening.

A total of one million people had been evacuated from the two provinces in anticipation of the storm. Residents erected sandbag barriers outside buildings to prevent flooding and reinforced windows with duct tape. Hainan Island canceled all flights and ferry services, closed tourist attractions, and ordered its more than 10 million residents to stay off the streets.

The storm brought heavy rain to much of Hainan, with strong winds uprooting the province’s iconic coconut trees. Hundreds of thousands of households lost power. The provincial electricity department set up a 7,000-person emergency response team to help with repairs.

Videos on social media showed the storm blowing out windows and shutters of homes; breaking and uprooting trees; and even uprooting a security booth in the city of Wenchang.

"I was on the second floor and felt the whole building shaking. It was pouring rain outside, and trees and billboards were blown away in the wind," said Mr. Lac, who was staying at a hotel in Wenchang city on September 6.

Mr. Truong, a resident of Haikou city, said, "The sky and earth were dark, the rain poured down, the houses shook. I have been in Hainan for 19 years and this is the third time I have witnessed such a big storm."

Zhang Ling's 1.6-meter-high window in Haikou was blown off its hinges by the wind, forcing her to quickly tie it back together with whatever rope she had in the house. "I used locks, ropes, and tape to reinforce it. Typhoon Rammasun was not as scary as this year's storm," she said.

Some residents of the Tinh Thanh apartment complex in Haikou had to go into the basement to avoid the storm. Those living on the upper floors said the wind was very strong and they could feel it clearly when they were up there. "I hope Yagi will pass soon," said one resident.

Ms. Wang said the government had issued a notice several days ago reminding people to take precautions. She had stocked up on supplies and windbreaks.

Guangxi's Qinzhou city also issued its highest level storm warning, fearing the storm would cause serious damage on the afternoon of September 7.

Yagi is the strongest typhoon to hit Hainan province since 2014, after Typhoon Rammasun killed 88 people in Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan, causing economic losses of more than $6.25 billion.