Typhoon Wipha Brings Chaos to Hong Kong and Southern China

The typhoon has also affected the Philippines, causing widespread damage and displacement.

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Typhoon Wipha has made landfall in southern China, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall to the region. Hong Kong has issued its highest tropical cyclone warning, with authorities cancelling classes and grounding hundreds of flights and other transport services. The typhoon has also affected the Philippines, causing widespread damage and displacement.

The Hong Kong observatory issued the T10 hurricane alert, warning of “destructive winds” and “considerable threat to Hong Kong.” The public was advised to “beware of destructive winds” and to stay indoors. Huge waves were spotted off the eastern coast of Hong Kong Island, according to the Reuters news agency. About 500 flights have been cancelled, while 400 others are scheduled to take off or land later in the day.

More than 200 people have sought refuge at government-run temporary shelters in Hong Kong. One man sought medical treatment at the emergency room of a public hospital on Sunday morning, with officials receiving more than a dozen reports of fallen trees. Authorities also suspended Sunday’s classes at all day schools and daycare centres, while trains offered limited services.

The typhoon also intensified seasonal monsoon rains in the Philippines, and two people have been reported missing, according to the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. More than 370,000 people in the Philippines were affected by days of stormy weather, including 43,000 who fled to government-run emergency shelters or homes of relatives due to flooding, landslides, and fierce winds. More than 400 houses were damaged in the onslaught, officials in the Philippines said.

China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces were also put on high alert, according to the state news agency Xinhua. The cities of Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Macao cancelled or delayed all daytime flights on Sunday. Wipha made landfall on the coast of Taishan city, state-run CCTV reported, with maximum wind force of 30 metres per second.

As the typhoon rages on, it’s clear that the power of nature can be overwhelming. The impact of climate change is being felt around the world, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and intense. The response to this disaster will require a coordinated effort from governments, emergency services, and communities.

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