20,000 youth unite for post-typhoon reconstruction in Hainan

Nearly 20,000 young volunteers have united in post-disaster reconstruction efforts after Super Typhoon Yagi ravaged Hainan province on Friday, according to the Communist Youth League of Hainan province.

The storm caused significant damage to facilities at universities in Haikou, disrupting daily activities for teachers and students.

Hainan University has taken the lead in establishing a post-disaster reconstruction task force. Student volunteers have demonstrated strong support, pledging their dedication to aid in the recovery process and assist in restoring normalcy.

Chunming College at Hainan University issued a call for community support on Sunday afternoon. Within 40 minutes, 330 male students formed a team to assist nearby communities with road cleaning and obstacle removal efforts.

Hainan University has also mobilized a volunteer team of over 50 international students. Ahmed Md Rezoan, a doctoral student from Bangladesh, is a member of the team. He said, "We are all volunteers, and I am eager to contribute my part to assist those in need."

A sophomore volunteer at Hainan Normal University, surnamed Yu, has been restoring the new student parking area. Her work involved righting overturned bikes and installing bike stands on Sunday.

Civil servants, residents and volunteers from all walks of life united to rebuild their community following the storm. Over 60,000 Party members and residents have mobilized across Haikou's neighborhoods to help with road clearing, debris and garbage removal and road drainage projects.

Wu Qiujie, 15, sprang into action to join the road-clearing team in Meilan district. Over the weekend, he tackled tasks including operating a chainsaw, dragging branches and sweeping debris.

Inspired by other volunteers, Wu said, "Being born in Hainan and experiencing Super Typhoon Rammasun as a kid a decade ago, I believe it's time for me to give back to society now that I'm older."

Gao Yong, a policeman and retired soldier from Shenmu, Shanxi province, arrived to help after a 21-hour journey that cost over 10,000 yuan ($1,405). He commented on the heartening scene of numerous volunteers collaborating to clear roadblocks, mentioning that the meaningful work made fatigue nearly unnoticeable.

In Longhua district, a group of delivery workers convened on Saturday afternoon to aid in clearing fallen branches and roads.

Abdur Rauf from Pakistan, a Haikou Longhua International Talent Volunteer Service Team member, also cleared branches.

Meanwhile, Jan Kerekes from Canada donated blood at after learning there was a shortage following the typhoon.

In Wenchang city, where Super Typhoon Yagi made landfall, over 950 volunteers cleared fallen trees and helped relocate disaster-affected factory materials on Tuesday.

Danzhou city and Chengmai county, both impacted, organized more than 6,200 volunteers for road clearing and other recovery operations.