Typhoon Saola, the strongest in five years, struck안전놀이터 Hong Kong and southern China, causing damage such as strong winds toppling trees and tsunami waves and flooding in the city center, killing at least one person. People fell and were blown away by strong winds exceeding 160 km per hour, and the power of the typhoon was captured as water broke through the doors of coastal buildings and flooded.
According to the Chinese Meteorological Observatory on the 2nd (local time), Typhoon Saola entered the southern coast of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, at around 3:30 am. At the time of landing, the maximum wind speed near the center was 45 m per second (162 km per hour), and the minimum pressure at the center was 950 hPa. The typhoon moving toward Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, gradually weakened in strength.
Hong Kong was directly affected by Typhoon Saola on the 1st, and Hong Kong authorities warned that Saola could become the strongest super typhoon since Typhoon Mangkhut hit Hong Kong in 2018. As a result, the Hong Kong stock market, schools, and public institutions were closed, and public transportation was suspended.
As of the afternoon of the 2nd, Hong Kong authorities reportedly received more than 1,200 reports of damage, including fallen trees. The Hong Kong government said more than 500 people sought government shelters and more than 50 were taken to hospitals due to the typhoon. It was reported that 460 flights were canceled in Hong Kong on the 1st.
This damage was clearly captured in the photos and videos posted by residents on social media.
In a video posted on social media, a woman collapsed in what appears to be Hong Kong, unable to withstand strong winds, and was immediately blown away by the strong winds for dozens of meters. She said the woman was unable to stand up for some time after she fell to the ground. Water rushed into a building in what appeared to be Hong Kong, causing the first floor door to break and instantly filling the interior of the building. In Hong Kong’s Tung Chung district, residential areas were filmed being submerged as seawater surged over the breakwater and into the city due to the tsunami.
Xinhua News Agency reported that Chinese authorities had evacuated more than 780,000 residents and 80,000 fishing boats from dangerous areas throughout Guangdong Province as of 10 o’clock on the 1st. Shenzhen Airport in Guangdong Province closed the airport and completely suspended aircraft operations.
Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the capital of Guangdong Province, suspended the operation of public facilities such as production facilities, commercial facilities, tourist attractions, and parks, closed all schools, and asked residents to refrain from unnecessary outings. Kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools in most areas of Guangdong Province postponed the start of school until the 4th.
In Shenzhen, a fallen tree suddenly hit a car, killing one person and injuring two others. The overall amount of damage has not yet been calculated.
The Central Meteorological Observatory requested caution, saying that Typhoon No. 11 ‘Haikui’ is also expected to pass through the southern coast of Taiwan and approach Guangdong in the early morning of the 6th.