Five things to know about Typhoon Wipha; flight cancellations, destructive winds and evacuations

Typhoon Wipha has forced the cancellation of about 500 flights as Hong Kong issued its highest storm warning on Sunday.

 

1. The typhoon is expected to bring in winds of more than 167 kilometres per hour, along with heavy rain in Hong Kong. The name Wipha means “splendour” or “radiance” in Thai. Names for typhoons in the western Pacific are chosen by the countries in the region.

 

2. The wind from the hurricane has touched down on the southern part of Hong Kong, according to the city’s observatory. There has also been a warning for flash floods.

A vessel caught fire at Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay typhoon shelter on Sunday morning.

 

3. The hurricane signal issued by the Hong Kong observatory remained at No 10, the highest level warning, till the evening. The observatory issued a warning that said to “beware of destructive winds.” The signal was lowered later to N 8, which signifies a gale or storm. The last time a No 10 signal was given was during the Super Typhoon Saola in 2023, which caused around 86 injuries and landslides.

About 14 people have sought medical treatment, and hundreds of people have been taking refuge at government shelters. Railways, public transport, events and parks were all shut down in Hong Kong.

 

4. The storm has already hit both Taiwan and the Philippines. Flooding and landslides were reported in the Philippines, which has affected over 370,000 people. In Vietnam, 38 people died in the northern part of the country at Halong Bay.

 

 5. The Chinese Meteorological Administration issued an orange typhoon warning, which is the second highest in the four-tier system. China sees about 8 typhoons each summer and autumn every year. Last year, Typhoon Yagi caused an economic loss of about 72 billion yuan.

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