Typhoon Sarika hits Hainan. (Photo : Getty Images)
Strong typhoon Sarika made landfall on the island Province of Hainan at 9 a.m. local time. Sarika has sustained winds of 130kph and gusts as high as 160kph.
There were 520,000 residents evacuated.
The typhoon brought 203 millimeters of rain by Tuesday. All flights were canceled at the Haikou Meilan International Airport.
Almost 8,000 communication stations experienced technical troubles as the wind gust was too strong.
A passenger bus carrying 45 people on one of Hainan's major highways overturned Monday night, according to local traffic police. Gales and wet roads caused the accident and no casualties were reported.
There was severe flooding reported in some counties and low-lying rural areas as well as landslides and mud-flows on Tuesday.
There were 31 cattle that were electrocuted in Dongxing, Wanning, on Tuesday morning by a falling high-voltage line. The residents of the farm were evacuated on Monday evening.
According to provincial meteorological station chief Cai Qinbo, losses from the typhoon would be "grave." He said that the cyclone was projected to be the most powerful typhoon to hit Hainan in a decade.
Cai said that Sarika is similar to a typhoon that hit Hainan in 2005 which triggered flash floods, destroyed roads and property.
There was constant monitoring and safety checks done by the local authorities. Reservoirs, power and water supplies were affected causing supply shortage of food and water.
As a preventive measure along the coastal scenic spots in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, roads were closed Tuesday and 8,000 tourists from Weizhou Island were evacuated Monday.
The same typhoon battered the Philippines which caused two deaths and thousands fleeing their homes. The typhoon is expected to move toward Vietnam.
While Sarika the country, typhoon Haima is expected to be stronger and will be following Sarika's path. Haima is expected to make landfall on the Philippines by Wednesday night.
