HK at standstill as city issues Typhoon Signal No.10 for Saola

Super Typhoon Saola brought Hong Kong to a standstill on Friday with hundreds of people taking refuge at shelters, trading of stock suspended, hundreds of flights grounded, public transportation suspended and schools halted.

The city's weather watchdog, the Hong Kong Observatory, issued a Typhoon Signal No.10 at 8:15 pm, meaning super typhoon Saola, estimating speeds of 118 kilometers per hour or more are expected. The signal was issued about two hours after Typhoon Signal No.9 was initiated.

MTR has suspended all train services and light rail services on outdoor sections, limited services will be maintained for underground sections. All schools were suspended on Friday and will remain closed until Saturday.

Hong Kong Observatory has indicated that Typhoon Saola should pass approximately 40 km south of the observatory around midnight.

It is the 17th time that the city has issued a Typhoon Signal No.10 since 1946, with the last one being in 2018 during the attack of Typhoon Mangkut, which led to 458 injuries, 500 reports of shattered glasses and 60,000 reports of fallen trees, amounting to an estimated direct loss of HK$4.6 billion ($586 million).

By 8 pm, the city has 394 people taking refuge at 40 temporary shelters in various districts. A total of 37 reports of fallen trees and seven flooded areas were received, with seven people injured.

During the period when Typhoon Signal No.8 or above is in effect, maritime traffic comes to a complete halt. High-speed trains in and out of the city were also suspended on Friday afternoon and Saturday.

Approximately 460 flights have been canceled, leaving over 300 passengers stranded, according to the Hong Kong Airport Authority.

The Observatory estimated that water levels in the eastern coastal waters of the territory would increase from around 9 pm.

Breaking a historical record, the water level at Tolo Harbour may reach 6 meters above chart datum near midnight, which is about 4 meters higher than the normal tide level.

The worst hit areas include Sha Tin, Tai Po, Sha Tau Kok, Sai Kung, etc. There will be serious flooding and the flood depth in some areas may be more than 1 meter. Ma Wan Tsuen in Lei Yue Mun and Ma Wan Chung Village in Tung Chung experienced flooding on Friday morning due to the typhoon.

At dusk, a flood alert system for Tai O center was activated by a cross-disciplinary force to co-ordinate any necessary evacuations, and rescue and emergency relief efforts for Tai O.

The Police, the Fire Services Department and Civil Aid Service staff will help affected residents, if needed, to move to the temporary shelters or other safe locations.

About 125 residents of Tai O, a flood-prone coastal village, have been listed for possible evacuation, while arrangements have been made for approximately 10 elderly residents with limited mobility to stay in shelters, according to Ho Siu-kei, the chairman of the Tai O Rural Committee.

The city's stock exchange also suspended all-day trading. Parks, amusement parks, beaches and public facilities were also closed.

The strong gale and heavy rains have brought inconvenience for residents and tourists, with some being stranded in hotel rooms.

College student Cao Zijun was among the tourists being caught in the ferocious tropical cyclone. Cao's plan to depart for Beijing on Saturday by high-speed train for the first day of the new semester was derailed as the suspension of train services between Hong Kong and many mainland destinations.

Cao, who will begin his PhD program on Saturday, told China Daily that he couldn't even get his hands on some souvenirs with many shops being closed since early Friday, which the city hoisted Typhoon Signal No.8.

Lean Zhuolin, an insurance agent, had her returning flight on Friday evening to Hong Kong called off due to the bad weather. Her clients, who awaited her in Hong Kong, were also stranded in their hotel room.

Among the storm chasers was a man surnamed Chan, who brought his family, including his young child to Tsim Sha Tsui to experience the ferocious wind. It had become the family's long-standing tradition to chase after storms every year.

"Just go out to feel it, although we definitely won't take risk to go to the seaside." Fok Wei-ming, a Hong Kong resident who lives in Heng Fa Chuen, a seaside residential estate, also went out to feel the typhoon. He mentioned that his child was supposed to start Form 2 on Friday, hopefully the new semester can start as scheduled on Monday.

Macao issued Typhoon signal No.9 at 11 pm Friday evening. By 4 pm, authorities in Macao received five reports of accidents and 35 people taking refuge at four shelters.