China - September 08, 2024

People in south China's island province of Hainan are draining water, clearing broken trees and repairing ravaged houses to recover from the Typhoon Yagi disaster.

Super Typhoon Yagi, the 11th typhoon of the year, made landfall twice on Friday, first striking Hainan and later Guangdong Province.

Firefighters in Haikou spent two hours on Sunday to drain the accumulated water out of an over-200-meter-long tunnel to resume traffic.

At the Hainan University, firefighters cleared the broken trees to ensure the normal travel for people on campus.

Residents in Wengtian Town of Wenchang, the first stop of the typhoon, are endeavoring to restore their villages as post-typhoon reconstruction efforts are in full swing there.

The main roads at Bowen Village of Wengtian has reopened to traffic, while villagers including 21-year-old Liang Yajun are clearing broken trees and other debris in front of their houses.

Liang recalled the terrifying moment when the typhoon landed.

"Iron sheets flew here and there that night, and even pounded the window barriers," said Liang.

Liang, a teacher of a local primary school, went to the school after the typhoon, finding that the walls and windows of the school had been broken.

"It saddens me so much. When we were asked to leave, the school was in good shape, but it's in such a mess now," said Liang.

Many old houses at the village were severely ravaged by the typhoon, with walls collapsed or roof tiles torn off, and some of them even completely collapsed.

"The wind blew the gate and the lock fell out when the typhoon landed that night. So we stood against the gate to keep it close for a whole night," said a villager.

The typhoon also blew down a signal tower, disrupting telecommunication at the village.

SHOTLIST:
Haikou City, Hainan Province, south China - Sept 8, 2024
1. Various of firefighters draining accumulated water out of tunnel;
2. Various of motorcyclists, broken trees on campus at Hainan University;
3. Various of firefighters clearing broken trees;

Wenchang City, Hainan Province, south China - Sept 7, 2024
4. Various of broken plants, house at Bowen Village;
5. Various of villager clearing broken tree in front of house;
6. Broken tree;
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liang Yajun, villager (ending with shot 8):
"Iron sheets flew here and there that night, and even pounded the window barriers.";
8. Broken window barriers;
9. Various of campus after typhoon;
10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liang Yajun, villager:
"It saddens me so much. When we were asked to leave, the school was in good shape, but it's in such a mess now.";
11. Various of broken houses, trees, telecommunications tower
12. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) villager (name not given):
"(Reporter: Is the iron gate prepared for typhoon? ) The wind blew the gate and the lock fell out when the typhoon landed that night. So we stood against the gate to keep it close for a whole night.";
13. Various of broken plants, houses.

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