HONG KONG (AP) – Typhoon Wipha unleashed significant disruptions in flight operations on Sunday in Hong Kong and several nearby airports across China as the storm progressed westward along the southern coast. The typhoon's impact was felt across various transportation sectors, leading to widespread cancellations and delays.
Airports in key cities including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Macao reported cancellations or postponements for all daytime flights, as displayed on their official websites. Additionally, some high-speed train services in the affected regions were suspended in response to the severe weather conditions.
The Hong Kong Observatory declared a hurricane signal No. 10, its highest alert level, indicating the seriousness of the approaching storm. The center of Typhoon Wipha was moving just south of Hong Kong around midday, and the Observatory reported maximum sustained winds reaching 140 kilometers per hour (87 miles per hour) at that time.
Local government authorities confirmed that over 200 individuals sought refuge in public shelters, highlighting the immediate need for safety among residents. There have also been numerous reports of fallen trees across the city. Popular attractions, including Hong Kong Disneyland and various amusement parks, were forced to close due to safety concerns.
The storm, which escalated to typhoon strength overnight, was on a trajectory toward Macao and the neighboring city of Zhuhai, with predictions indicating it would make landfall late Sunday and continue its westward path, eventually reaching Vietnam later in the week.
Wipha, a name derived from Thai, first passed over the Philippines, where it was categorized as a tropical storm before intensifying. Additionally, it caused heavy rainfall in parts of Taiwan on Saturday. The naming convention for typhoons in the western Pacific region involves contributions from the countries surrounding the area.
In the Philippines, the effects of Wipha were profound, amplifying the seasonal monsoon rains, which resulted in tragedy. At least one villager lost their life due to severe flooding in northern Cagayan province. The storm's impact extended to over 370,000 individuals who experienced the fallout of the stormy weather, with approximately 43,000 fleeing to government-run emergency shelters or seeking refuge with relatives as a response to flooding, landslides, and severe winds. Officials reported that more than 400 houses sustained damage during the storm's onslaught.
