A damaged petrol station is seen as Typhoon Mangkhut hits Philippines, Laoag, Philippines September 15, 2018 in this still image obtained from a social media video. PHILIPPINE RED CROSS/via REUTERS
September 16, 2018
By James Pomfret
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A hurricane force “super typhoon” swirled toward Hong Kong and the Chinese coastline on Sunday, gaining in force over the South China sea after hurtling through the Philippines where it left at least three people dead.
“Super typhoon” Mangkhut is considered the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the region this year, with gale force winds of more than 200 kph (125 mph), equal to a maximum Category 5 “intense hurricane” in the Atlantic.
The Philippine disaster agency said two rescue workers died while trying to free people trapped in a landslide in the mountainous Cordillera region, while police said a body had been found in a river in Manila
Mangkhut, the Thai name for the mangosteen fruit of southeast Asia, was expected to skirt around 100 kilometers south of Hong Kong and veer westwards toward the Chinese coastline of Guangdong province, as well as the gambling hub of Macau straddling the Pearl River Delta.
“According to the present forecast track, Mangkhut will be closest to the Pearl River Delta around noontime (0200 GMT),” the Hong Kong Observatory said.
The third highest No. 8 typhoon signal has already been raised in Hong Kong, with a higher signal expected within hours as fierce waves pounded low-lying areas and strong winds rattled windows in many of the city’s towering skyscrapers.
Some residents have been evacuated from low-lying areas with storm surges of up to 3.5 meters expected.
Tens of thousands of passengers were stranded in the city’s international airport on Sunday, the airport authority said, with airlines including the city’s flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, having already canceled many flights.
Last year, the region was pummeled by one of the strongest storms in recent years, Typhoon Hato. In Macau, Hato left nine people dead and caused extensive damage, spurring criticism that authorities were not well prepared and underestimated the storm’s force.
Macau has been extra cautious this time around. Gambling operations at its casinos were shut down late on Saturday, authorities said, while China’s People’s Liberation Army was on standby to provide disaster relief assistance if need be.
“The suspension of gaming operations is for the safety of casino employees, visitors to the city, and residents,” the Macau government said in a statement.
(Reporting by James Pomfret, Anne Marie Roantree and Farah Master; Editing by David Gregorio)
