China, Hong Kong brace for Typhoon Mangkhut, as toll rises to 49
Hong Kong and southern China braced on Sunday as strong winds and heavy rain from Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the densely populated coast, a day after the biggest storm of the year left at least 49 dead in the northern Philippines.
Nearly half a million people had been evacuated from seven cities in Guangdong province of China, and the Hong Kong Observatory warned people to stay away from the Victoria Harbour landmark, where storm surges battered the waterfront reinforced with sandbags.
Mangkhut made landfall in Guangdong on Sunday afternoon, packing wind speeds of 162 kilometres an hour.
The national meteorological centre said southern China "will face a severe test caused by wind and rain" and urged officials to prepare for possible disasters.
The national meteorological centre urged officials to prepare for possible disasters [Jason Lee/Reuters] |
The Hong Kong Observatory said although Mangkhut had weakened slightly, its extensive, intense rainbands were bringing heavy downfall and frequent squalls.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled. All high-speed and some normal rail services in Guangdong and Hainan provinces were also halted on Sunday, the China Railway Guangzhou Group Co said.
Footage posted on social media showed fierce winds throwing people to the ground, swaying buildings, smashed windows and serious flooding.
A video reportedly filmed in Hong Kong's Kowloon area showed scaffolding collapsing at a building site.
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---From JiLe Electronics Manufacturing Co., Ltd Notice /2018.09.16th