At least 34 people were injured in Hong Kong after Typhoon Hato struck the city.
The Special Administration Region’s government has also received a report of a landslide, four cases of water-logging and 182 reports of falling trees.
The Weather Observatory downgraded the storm warning from 10 to 8 at 2:10 p.m.
2:00 p.m. BJT – The Gongbei Port of Entry and the Frontier Post of the Border Gate were closed except in emergency cases due to the extreme weather, Macao’s police bureau announced.
1:00 p.m. BJT – Typhoon Hato made landfall in Zhuhai, in south China’s Guangdong Province with a maximum speed of around 45 meters per second at its eye.
12:40 p.m. BJT- Typhoon Hato is edging closest to the special administrative region, skirting around 60 kilometers to the south of Hong Kong, according to the Weather Observatory.
The winds with mean speeds of 118 kilometers per hour or more are expected and authorities warned of destructive winds, possible flooding, and landslip.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced that the trading sessions in the securities and derivatives markets, including After-Hours Futures Trading, have been canceled.
No securities clearing and settlement services will be provided for the day and there will be no Stock Connect trading, according to a statement by HKEX.
Macao also issued its first Signal No. 10 since 1999.
Over 90 flights scheduled to depart from and arrive in Macao were canceled.
11:39 a.m. BJT-Hong Kong on Wednesday issued No. 10 typhoon signal, the highest in its storm warning system, as the city braced for the arrival of Typhoon Hato.
The warning was issued by the Weather Observatory at 9:10 a.m. HKT. It warned that the severe Typhoon would be closest to the south of Hong Kong in the coming few hours as the winds strengthen significantly.
The typhoon is set to make landfall in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon before hitting south China’s Guangdong Province.
From 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. HKT on Wednesday, the maximum sustained winds recorded at Ngong Ping, Waglan Island, and Cheung Chau Beach were 151, 136 and 132 kilometers per hour with maximum gusts 195, 159 and 193 kilometers per hour respectively, said the Weather Observatory.
The Hong Kong Airport Authority said flight operations would be affected all day. At least 420 flights were canceled and the Hong Kong airport is rearranging the schedule of the flights.
All transportation services between Hong Kong Island and the airport were suspended.
Rail service in the open or above ground sections of the railway and MTR Bus Service also have been suspended. The rail service still in operation is doing so in limited sections with 15-minute intervals between underground stations.
The Education Bureau announced that classes at all schools would be suspended on Wednesday.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced that the morning trading in its securities market, including Stock Connect trading, and derivatives market has been canceled due to Typhoon Hato.
“If Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above is canceled at or before 12:00 noon, products of HKEX’s securities and derivatives markets will resume trading in the afternoon,” according to a statement by HKEX.
The last time that closed the stock exchange for the whole day was in August last year after No. 8 tropical signal was issued due to Typhoon Nida.
More about Hato
Named after the Japanese word for pigeon, Hato is the first typhoon to trigger a No. 10 signal in Hong Kong since 2012.
The last No. 10 signal was issued on July 24 in 2012 when Typhoon Vicente hit Hong Kong that left at least 138 people injured.
The No. 10 typhoon signal is issued when hurricane force wind is expected or blowing with sustained speed reaching upwards from 118 km/h and gusts that may exceed 220 km/h, according to the Weather Observatory.
The National Meteorological Center of China Meteorological Administration also initiated this year’s first red weather alert due to Typhoon Hato, warning of possible geological disasters and floods. (cgtn)