BANGKOK (AP) - Typhoon Matmo regained its strength on Saturday morning, evolving back into a typhoon as it departed from the Philippines and headed towards Hainan province in southern China. This development followed a previous phase where the storm had weakened.

The typhoon exhibited sustained wind speeds of 118 kph (73 mph) as reported by China’s National Meteorological Center. As it approaches landfall, it is anticipated that Matmo will intensify further before making landfall on Sunday in both Guangdong and Hainan provinces.

In anticipation of the storm, flights from Haikou, the capital city of Hainan, are set to be canceled starting Saturday night at 11 p.m. Additionally, local authorities announced that classes would be suspended, and public transportation and businesses would be shut down on Saturday. Various train services throughout Hainan province were also canceled on Saturday, with further suspensions expected on Sunday.

The national weather observatory of China issued an orange alert warning regarding the storm on Saturday, emphasizing the need for public safety measures in the face of Matmo's impending impact.

Before its current trajectory, Matmo traveled through the Philippines, where evacuation measures were implemented for thousands of residents. Fortunately, reports have indicated that no immediate casualties occurred during its passage through the region, suggesting that the precautionary evacuations were effective in safeguarding lives.

As Matmo approaches China, local preparedness measures are being ramped up in Hainan and Guangdong provinces. Residents are being urged to secure their homes and stay alert for further updates from weather authorities. The situation continues to evolve, and communities are bracing for the storm’s potential consequences.