Hainan recovers after Typhoon Conson strike
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China's southernmost province of Hainan is recovering after Typhoon Conson slammed into the island Friday evening, with workers fixing damaged facilities and draining streets of flood waters as airports in Sanya and Haikou reopen.
Conson made landfall at 7:50 p.m. Friday, packing winds of up to 126 km per hour and heavy rains. It uprooted trees, destroyed billboards and light poles, and cut power supplies in some areas of the island.
At least two people were killed by billboard collapses, including a security guard and a cyclist.
Conson weakened into a tropical storm at 2 a.m. Saturday, the weather bureau in Sanya said, adding that it entered Beibu Bay in the South China Sea at 5 a.m.
Maintenance workers in Sanya Saturday repaired wires and cables, restored toppled poles and cleared roads of uprooted trees.
As of midday, workers were still draining flood waters from downtown Sanya streets.
Authorities at Sanya's Fenghuang Airport said a flight from Bangkok had landed safely at 9 a.m. The airport is expecting 210 takeoffs and landings Saturday. Meilan Airport in Haikou, the provincial capital, also resumed operations Saturday.
But ferry and train services are yet to resume.
More than 300 passengers and at least 1,000 vehicles were waiting for ferry services at Haikou Harbor Saturday morning.
"The wind speeds at Haikou Harbor are still over 70 km per hour," said Chen Xinxian, deputy manager at ferry operator Xiuying Ferry Service Company.
"Ferry services will resume after wind speeds drop to 40 km per hour, probably after 6 p.m," he added.
Conson also brought downpours and gales to southern China's coastal province of Guangdong.
Before hitting China, Conson left 53 people dead in the Philippines.
