An almost deserted street in Hong Kong before the Saola transit, Friday, September 1, 2023. DANIEL CENG / AP
Super Typhoon Saola, which is approaching the Chinese coast, could be the “strongest” to make landfall in the Hong Kong region, which includes Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Macau, in more than seventy years, the National Meteorological Center (CMN) warned ). social network Weibo, Friday September 1st. Its wind speeds reach more than 200 km/h.
Given the possibility of a direct impact on Hong Kong, authorities have warned that they will consider issuing a higher alert level – the current alert level is at T8 level – “tonight between 6pm and 10pm” on Friday (between 12pm and 2:00 p.m. (Paris time) to bring it up to T9 or even T10, a maximum that has only been issued 16 times since World War II.
At 2 p.m., Saola was 140 kilometers east and southeast of Hong Kong, with sustained winds of 210 km/h. According to the observatory, the super typhoon could bypass the area less than 50 kilometers south and trigger a storm surge around Victoria Harbour, a strait that separates the mainland and island parts of Hong Kong. According to local media, the road bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and the Chinese city of Zhuhai was closed on Friday afternoon for safety reasons.
Super Typhoon Mangkhut of 2018 sets a precedent
Authorities fear landslides and flooding, with water rising up to three meters higher than normal in some areas. Eastern coastal areas could see water levels similar to those experienced by Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, when more than 300 people were injured in Hong Kong. In mainland China, more than three million people in southern provinces were affected and six deaths occurred.
The streets of Hong Kong were deserted on Friday, except for a few residents doing last-minute shopping for the weekend. According to a local resident met by Agence France-Presse, the government made the right decision by delaying the start of the school year. “If it’s enough [le niveau d’alerte T10], there could be traffic disruptions. It is better to wait until this is over before sending the children to school. »
Storefronts and windows in shops and homes were protected with tape, while office buildings near Victoria Harbor barricaded entrances to prevent water from entering.
Also read: Super typhoon Mangkhut hits the Philippines and claims its first victims
Interruption of transport
The Hong Kong Airport Authority announced the cancellation of more than 300 flights on Friday, but 600 more flights remain scheduled. Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific has suspended all flights there. China’s Zhuhai and Shenzhen airports have canceled hundreds of flights, while authorities in Guangdong have suspended all rail services until Saturday. In mainland China, Guangdong Province declared a Level I wind emergency, the maximum level.
Shenzhen, a city of 17.7 million people, has decided to close offices, shops and markets from 4 p.m. (10 a.m.). “With the exception of emergency personnel and livelihood protection personnel, people are advised not to go outside,” the Department of Emergency Management said, adding that “the city will open all emergency shelters to allow the public to find shelter.”
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All public transportation in Shenzhen will be suspended in the evening, while trains to and from Guangdong will be suspended from 8:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m.) on Friday to 6:00 p.m. (12:00 p.m.) on Saturday. Authorities in Macau, a neighboring area of Hong Kong, said they were considering the possibility of issuing a level T8 alert on Saturday. As for the stock market, it was announced that “the trading sessions of [vendredi] The morning for all markets would be cancelled.”
Also read: Article reserved for our subscribers With warming, hurricanes are becoming slower and more destructive
Strict construction standards
Although they can temporarily paralyze cities like Hong Kong and Macau, typhoons cause far fewer deaths and damage than before, thanks to stricter building standards and better flood management systems. The surfers even took advantage of the wind speeds, which were already reaching 63 km/h, to compete against the huge waves generated as they approached Saola.
Its passage earlier this week in northern Philippines displaced thousands of people, but no casualties were reported there. Southern China is frequently hit by typhoons, which form in the warm oceans east of the Philippines in summer and fall and then move west.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Haikui is approaching Taiwan and is expected to make landfall on Sunday before heading towards the Chinese city of Fuzhou, according to the Taiwan Meteorological Bureau. The Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangzhou announced on its official WeChat account that it would suspend all external operations and mobilize its emergency personnel.
Climate change has increased the intensity of tropical storms, with more rain and stronger gusts causing flash flooding and coastal damage, experts say.
Also read: How are storm names chosen?