With the menacing approach of Typhoon “Koinu”, Hong Kong has elevated its storm warning level, just a mere month after the city experienced record rainfall following its most potent typhoon in five years.
Hong Kong’s Observatory has announced, via its website, the escalation of the warning level to Signal No. 8, which stands as the third-highest warning on the observatory’s five-level typhoon scale (1, 3, 8, 9, and the peak at 10), according to Bloomberg News Agency. This heightened alert effectively shuts down the city, limiting subway train frequencies and prompting the closure of most shops, restaurants, and businesses.
The observatory predicts Typhoon Koinu will reach a proximity of 90 kilometers (56 miles) southeast of Hong Kong and is expected to gradually shift west towards the Pearl River Delta. The observatory added that fierce winds are expected to impact extensive areas of Hong Kong, with heavy rainfall potentially persisting until Monday.
The tropical storm will be closest to Hong Kong this evening, coiling about 70 kilometers south of the city. The observatory expressed that it will assess the necessity for issuing higher warning levels as the situation develops.
Central China Television has announced that dozens of flights in and out of Hong Kong have been canceled today as the storm looms, and the major Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has been temporarily closed.
In summary, residents and travelers in Hong Kong are now faced with significant disruptions and potential risks, as authorities remain on high alert and the city takes necessary precautions to minimize the impact of Typhoon Koinu.
