Hong Kong, 2 September, 2023(GNP):Typhoon Saola, strongest storm in decades, causing tens of millions in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and other southern Chinese megacities to hunker down indoors on Friday.
Ahead of Saola’s landfall, authorities evacuated over 880,000 people in two Chinese provinces. The region saw hundreds of flight cancellations, and Hong Kong’s rain-battered streets witnessed uprooted trees.
Anticipating a direct hit, Hong Kong authorities raised the city’s warning level to the highest, known as “T10,” on Friday evening. This level had been issued only 16 times since World War II prior to Saola.
China’s national weather office forecasted that Saola could potentially become the most powerful typhoon to hit the Pearl River Delta since 1949. This region encompasses Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong province, and it is known for its low-lying geography.
Under relentless rainfall, Hong Kong residents wrestled with their umbrellas, and individuals wearing plastic bags on their heads hurried home. Sandbags were strategically placed in waterfront areas to avert flooding.
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The Hong Kong Observatory issued a warning after the highest alert, advising people not to venture outside. They cautioned individuals to keep away from exposed windows and doors, as flying objects could easily shatter glass already under pressure from the wind.
At 11pm local time, Typhoon Saola was positioned just 30 kilometers south-southwest of the city, making it the closest it had been to Hong Kong at that moment. It had sustained wind speeds of 185 kilometers per hour.
Hong Kong’s previous T10 warning was in 2018, when Typhoon Mangkhut struck the city, causing tree damage, floods, and over 300 injuries. In mainland China, Mangkhut claimed six lives and disrupted the lives of over three million people.
Stronger tropical cyclones
Warm oceans east of the Philippines often give rise to typhoons that move westward, frequently affecting southern China in summer and autumn.
Climate change has amplified tropical storms, causing increased rainfall and stronger gusts, leading to flash floods and coastal damage, according to experts.
In Hong Kong, authorities dealt with seven confirmed cases of flooding and nearly 40 reports of fallen trees during Saola. Seven people sought medical treatment.
Businesses protected their glass displays and windows with tape, while tall buildings swayed in the strong gusts.
In the coastal area of Heng Fa Chuen, which was heavily affected by Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, officers in orange vests urged people to go home due to heavy gusts causing trees to lean.
In the flood-prone fishing village of Lei Yue Mun, water seeped into shops, prompting residents to use sandbags and board up doors to protect their belongings, such as electronics.
Macau, a neighboring casino hub, raised its storm warning to the second-highest level and anticipated reaching the top-tier by 1 am local time on Saturday.
