Typhoon Saola has made landfall in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong as violent winds lashed nearby Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau, leaving at least one dead and a trail of destruction and flooding.
The Asian financial hub of Hong Kong and China’s neighbouring populous province of Guangdong cancelled hundreds of flights on Friday and shut businesses, schools and financial markets as Saola had edged closer.
Packing winds of more than 200km/h as a super typhoon, Saola was among the strongest to menace the southern province since 1949. It was a severe typhoon, Chinese authorities said, as it made landfall in Zhuhai city with winds slowing to around 160km/h.
Railway operations in Guangdong were allowed to gradually resume from early Saturday, the railway operator said.
Despite weakening, Saola continues to affect the region, Chinese authorities said, as it moves towards Taiwan’s eastern coast.
More than 300 people were stranded at Hong Kong’s airport after some 460 flights were cancelled, the city’s Airport Authority said.
Flagship carrier Cathay Pacific said flights would resume from 1400 AEST on Saturday after being suspended since Friday afternoon.
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Hong Kong imposed its highest hurricane storm signal 10 on Friday night, lowering it to eight by Saturday morning. The city’s observatory said it would remain in force until 1800 AEST as heavy rain and flooding were still affecting the territory.
Fallen trees were strewn over many roads, particularly in the more exposed outlying islands. In the bustling Causeway Bay district many building signs had flown off.
A large window was blown out of an office building in the Tseung Kwan O district, footage from broadcaster TVB showed. Photos posted on Facebook showed water levels at Repulse Bay beach surging several metres higher than normal level, partially submerging its landmark Tin Hau temple.
More than 500 people sought refuge in government shelters while more than 50 people were admitted to hospitals due to the typhoon, the government said.
In Macau, the world’s biggest gambling centre, casinos were allowed to reopen from early Saturday, the government said, after shutting Friday night.
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Shenzhen, a city of more than 17 million, suspended work, businesses and financial markets from Friday afternoon, warning that destructive winds could lash it through Saturday.
“Of course I’m worried, it’s forecast to be a big one and I want to get home,” a delivery driver surnamed Lu said on a busy day for the city’s supermarkets, many set to close early.
By 11am local time, airports in Shenzhen and the nearby city of Zhuhai had cancelled hundreds of flights.
As a safety precaution, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge linking the three cities was shut on Friday.
Officials of the Taishan nuclear power plant in Guangdong said it had halted outdoor operations and transferred out vulnerable materials, with emergency staff taking up duty.
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One person was killed in Shenzhen after a tree fell and hit their vehicle, local media reported.
Haikui, a typhoon not as strong as Saola, was forecast to make landfall on Taiwan’s far southeastern coast late on Sunday afternoon and bring heavy rain across the island into next week.
Taiwan’s two main domestic airlines cancelled all flights for Sunday, and the government warned people to stay away from beaches and mountain areas.
