Typhoon Matmo strengthens, prompting China to evacuate 347,000 people ahead of landfall

Typhoon Matmo intensified as it approached southern China, leading authorities to evacuate around 347,000 people from Guangdong and Hainan provinces ahead of Sunday's landfall.

The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 151 kph (94 mph) Sunday morning, struck Zhanjiang in Guangdong in the mid-afternoon, prompting China's National Meteorological Center to issue a red-level typhoon warning, the highest on its scale.

Hainan province, also in the storm's path, canceled flights, suspended public transport, and closed businesses starting Saturday. Authorities preemptively evacuated 197,856 residents. In Guangdong, 151,000 people were moved from the southwestern coastal areas, and local media reported waves washing over roads in Zhanjiang.

Heavy rainfall is expected, with totals of 100 to 249 mm (3.9 to 9.8 inches) forecasted in parts of both provinces. Macau, outside the direct path of Matmo, canceled schools and tutoring sessions due to adverse weather.

Earlier this week, Matmo passed through the Philippines, affecting more than 220,000 people across northern agricultural plains and mountainous regions. Nearly 35,000 were moved to emergency shelters or relocated to relatives' homes to avoid flood- and landslide-prone areas. No casualties or major damage were reported.

The storm is expected to continue westward and northward, moving toward northern Vietnam and China's Yunnan province.