Flights, train services disrupted as typhoon hits Hainan Island

Heavy rain is also expected in southwestern Guangdong, southeastern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Nansha and Zhongsha islands, which are part of Hainan.

All trains to and from the island via the cross-strait Yuehai Railway ferry were halted. By 8 pm on Tuesday, 191 flights at Hainan's two major airports in Haikou and Sanya were canceled, and 35 flights were delayed due to the typhoon. The high-speed railway running around the island stopped operation on Tuesday morning.

The Hainan provincial office for flood, typhoon and drought control initiated a Level II emergency response on Tuesday. Local education departments also initiated a response at the same level, providing early warning information and defense guidelines to schools, teachers, students and parents.

To ensure supply and price stability, local vegetable supply companies have reserved more than 960 metric tons of 30 types of vegetables from inside and outside Hainan, including potatoes, Chinese cabbage and lettuce, 200 tons of which are being sold at only 1 yuan ($0.15) per 500 grams, according to the local government.