Yachts are seen docked at a dock in Sanya, south China's Hainan province, June 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's southernmost island province of Hainan has been on high alert for the first typhoon of the year, Typhoon Wutip that is forecast to make landfall on Friday.

Typhoon Wutip intensified into a severe tropical storm at 8 p.m. Thursday, when its center was located approximately 95 kilometers south of Sanya in Hainan. The storm is packing winds of up to 25 meters per second, bringing gale-force winds to a broad area, according to the local meteorological bureau.

Heavy rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters is expected within 24 hours across six cities and counties on the island, with alerts for rainstorms and flash floods being issued.

Sanya activated the second-highest level of emergency response measures for flood and typhoon prevention at 6 p.m. Thursday. Key reservoirs have begun controlled discharges, while water supply and sewage systems remain operational.

All kindergartens, schools, construction sites and tourist attractions in Sanya have been closed. Ships are prohibited from sailing, and Sanya airport has suspended all flights from 10 p.m. Thursday. High-speed rail services across Hainan have been halted, with operations expected to resume on Saturday.

The typhoon is moving northwest at 10 to 15 kilometers per hour, and may land between Sanya and Dongfang on Friday morning as a severe tropical storm. It is forecast to strike south China's Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Saturday.