TAIWAN: Hong Kong is bracing a Super Typhoon Saola advancing towards China’s southern coast, prompting a series of precautionary measures in the city and across the region.
The powerful storm has triggered widespread disruptions and raised concerns about its potential impact.
As the threat of Super Typhoon Saola loomed large, Hong Kong authorities took swift action to protect its citizens. The city issued a T8 threat warning, its third-highest level, at approximately 2:40 a.m. local time on Friday (18:40 GMT on Thursday). At that time, Saola’s menacing winds were clocked at over 205 kilometres per hour (127 miles per hour), and it was positioned just 230 kilometres (142 miles) to the east-southeast of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Observatory warned residents that weather conditions would “deteriorate rapidly” throughout the day, with a high risk of serious flooding in low-lying coastal areas. The public was also urged to stay away from shorelines for their safety.
China’s mainland was not spared from Saola’s impending fury. Authorities issued the highest typhoon warning for the storm, predicting its landfall in the coastal areas extending from Huilai to Hong Kong on Friday afternoon or evening. Guangdong province declared a windstorm emergency level I, the highest emergency response level, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
The China National Meteorological Centre issued a red alert, the most severe level in its four-tier warning system. In anticipation of Saola’s arrival, more than 100,000 people were relocated in eastern China’s Fujian province, according to the state-run Global Times media outlet.
The super typhoon’s impending arrival triggered a series of disruptions. Several Chinese cities delayed the start of the school year as a precautionary measure. China Railway Guangzhou Group suspended nearly 4,000 trains between Thursday and Sunday, affecting travel plans across the region.
Cathay Pacific and budget airline HK Express canceled flights in and out of Hong Kong between 06:00 GMT on Friday and 02:00 GMT on Saturday, impacting travelers’ schedules.
China’s transport ministry deployed 16 rescue-and-salvage ships and nine rescue helicopters to areas expected to be hit by the storm, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Rare Threat to Hong Kong
While Hong Kong is no stranger to typhoons, a direct hit by a super typhoon is a rare occurrence. The Hong Kong Observatory stated that it would continue to assess the situation throughout the evening and consider the need to issue higher tropical cyclone warning signals if necessary.
Super Typhoon Saola’s path, which included passing just south of Taiwan and affecting southern cities with torrential rain, demonstrates the widespread impact of these powerful storms. Fortunately, no direct casualties have been reported thus far in its wake.
As if Saola’s threat weren’t enough, a second typhoon named Haikui is currently approaching Taiwan. It is expected to make landfall on the northern part of the island before heading towards the eastern Chinese city of Fuzhou, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau. The region remains on alert as it faces the dual challenge of two potentially devastating storms.
In the face of these formidable weather events, the communities in the affected areas are working together to ensure the safety and well-being of their residents. Preparedness and vigilance are paramount as they confront the unpredictable forces of nature.
