In a powerful display of nature's wrath, Super Typhoon Yagi, also known as Makar in China, unleashed destructive winds and heavy rainfall as it made landfall on Hainan Island in southern China. The typhoon, classified as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 125 knots (232 kilometers) per hour, had earlier skirted Hong Kong, leading to the closure of the city's stock market.

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Yagi is expected to gradually weaken as it moves across Hainan Island and heads towards the Gulf of Tonkin, targeting northern Vietnam on Saturday. The typhoon's path is projected to pass over the famous Ha Long Bay before reaching Hanoi.

To ensure the safety of residents, nearly 420,000 people in Hainan were evacuated ahead of the typhoon's arrival, as reported by the official Xinhua News Agency. Furthermore, in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, over 570,000 residents were relocated in anticipation of a second landfall later today.

Authorities have taken necessary precautions to protect crops, including rice and sugar, in Guangdong and neighboring Guangxi provinces. They have advised people to clear ditches for proper drainage in flooded rice fields and reinforce greenhouses to withstand the storm's impact.

Yagi is anticipated to be the most powerful typhoon to hit China's southern coast since 2014, as stated in a report by Xinhua citing government meetings, including the China Meteorological Association.

As a result of the typhoon, disruptions and cancellations have affected nearly 1,000 flights, according to data from Chinese flight tracker VariFlight. All flights in and out of Haikou, the main airport of Hainan, have been canceled, and services in and out of Sanya have been scrapped. Meanwhile, authorities in Vietnam are preparing to suspend operations at four northern airports, including the international airport in Hanoi.

This super typhoon first struck the Philippines earlier this week, causing casualties and forcing thousands to flee. After leaving the Philippine territory, Yagi continued its path towards the South China Sea, drenching Hong Kong in heavy rainfall.

In response to the inclement weather, Hong Kong decided to suspend trading on its $4.9 trillion stock market on Friday. This marked the potential final time that a typhoon will necessitate a halt in trading, as the financial hub is ending its long-standing practice of market closures during severe storms starting from September 23. The Hong Kong Observatory has downgraded its storm warning to Signal 3 from Typhoon Signal 8, which was the third-highest alert level.

Hong Kong International Airport, a major transportation hub for both passengers and air cargo, has largely remained operational, with only 20% of flights being canceled or rescheduled.

Super Typhoon Yagi continues to make its way across southern China, its force serving as a reminder of the devastating potential of such natural phenomena. Residents in affected areas are urged to stay vigilant, heed the advice of authorities, and take necessary precautions for their safety.