Hong Kong Raises Highest Level Typhoon Alert As Saola Inches Closer To Mainland China

According to China’s National Meteorological Centre, Typhoon Saola is likely to make a landfall in coastal areas from Taishan city in Guangdong to Shenzhen in the early hours on Saturday.

A man looks at the sea ahead of Typhoon Saola in Hong Kong.

New Delhi: Hong Kong sounded alert to highest level for Typhoon Saola on Friday, which is set to become the strongest storm to hit southern China in decades, news agency AFP reported. The weather station issued the advisory urging people not to venture outside their houses and to find safe shelter. "Do not go outside and stay away from exposed windows and doors. Make sure you have a safe place to shelter and be prepared for the change in wind directions," the Hong Kong Observatory warned in a bulletin issued at 8:15 pm, as reported by the news agency.

According to China’s National Meteorological Centre, Typhoon Saola is likely to make a landfall in coastal areas from Taishan city in Guangdong to Shenzhen in the early hours on Saturday, AFP reported.

The educational institutes suspended the classes and several flights were cancelled as the typhoon inched closer to mainland China. The rail authorities suspended all train services entering or leaving Guangdong province from Friday night to Saturday evening, AFP reported.

READ | Hundreds Of Flights Cancelled, Stores Run Out Of Produce As Typhoon Saola Gets Closer To Mainland China

According to the report, several people were stranded as Hong Kong cancelled 460 scheduled flights.

The weather office said the typhoon would record maximum sustained winds of 210 kilometres per hour posing “high threat” and would hit the financial hub around midnight, about 40 kilometres south of the city’s Tsim Sha Tsui district, as reported by AP.

The weather station further said that the typhoon would gradually weaken on Saturday as the storm would west along the coast away from Hong Kong. The observatory also said flooding in the coastal areas was likely, reported AP.

As many as 330 people took refuge at temporary shelters as the city braced for the storm on Friday. Residents of the low-lying areas kept sandbags at their doors to prevent the rain water from entering their homes.