In dire straits: Firefighters saw off a fallen tree after Typhoon Saola lashed Hong Kong. — Bloomberg
Typhoon Saola made landfall in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong as violent winds lashed nearby Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau, leaving at least one dead and a trail of destruction and flooding in many areas.
The Asian financial hub of Hong Kong and China’s neighbouring populous province of Guangdong had cancelled hundreds of flights on Friday and shut businesses, schools and financial markets as Saola edged closer.
Packing winds of over 200kph as a super typhoon, Saola was among the strongest storms to menace the southern province since 1949.
It became a severe typhoon, Chinese authorities said, as it made landfall in Zhuhai city with winds slowing to around 160kph.Railway operations in Guangdong were allowed to gradually resume from 8.30am, the railway operator said.
Despite weakening, Saola continues to affect the region, Chinese authorities said, as it moves towards Taiwan’s eastern coast.
More than 300 people were stranded at Hong Kong’s airport after some 460 flights were cancelled, the city’s Airport Authority said.Hong Kong imposed its highest hurricane storm signal 10 on Friday night, lowering it to eight by yesterday morning.
The city’s observatory said the warning would remain in force until 4pm as heavy rain and flooding were still affecting the territory.Fallen trees were strewn over many roads, particularly in the more exposed outlying islands.
In the bustling Causeway Bay district, many building signs had flown off.
A large window was blown out of an office building in the Tseung Kwan O district, footage from broadcaster TVB showed.
Photos posted on Facebook showed water levels at Repulse Bay beach surging several metres higher than normal level, partially submerging its landmark Tin Hau temple.
More than 500 people sought refuge in government shelters while over 50 were admitted to hospitals due to the typhoon, the government said.
In Macau, the world’s biggest gambling centre, casinos were allowed to reopen from 8am yesterday, the government said, after shutting on Friday night.
One person was killed in Shenzhen after a tree fell and hit a vehicle, local media reported.Haikui, a typhoon not as strong as Saola, was forecast to make landfall on Taiwan’s mountainous and sparsely populated far southeastern coast this afternoon and bring heavy rain across the island into next week. — Reuters
