Super Typhoon Saola Paralyzes Hong Kong: Schools, Businesses, and Stock Exchange Shutdown
Hong Kong is at a standstill as the formidable Super Typhoon Saola looms on the horizon, with authorities raising the strong wind signal to No. 8. This unprecedented move has led to the unprecedented closure of schools, businesses, and even the stock exchange in a bid to safeguard residents from the impending typhoon's wrath.
Super Typhoon Saola, boasting wind speeds in excess of 200 kmph, is poised to carve a path towards eastern Guangdong, the neighboring Chinese mainland province. In response to this impending natural juggernaut, Chinese authorities have issued the highest typhoon alert, marking the potential arrival of one of the most potent typhoons since 1949 to batter Guangdong.
The Hong Kong Weather Observatory has provided a stark warning, indicating that Saola is expected to pass within 100 km of the city on Friday night (September 1) and into Saturday morning (September 2). As this devastating tempest inches closer, there is a growing possibility that higher cyclone warning signals may become imperative as the day unfolds.
Hong Kong's rigorous typhoon warning system employs a five-tier scale, with rankings of 1, 3, 8, 9, and 10 representing the strength of the hurricane signal. In a bid to prepare for the impending onslaught, all educational institutions will remain closed on Friday, leading to disruptions at the start of the academic term for countless students.
In anticipation of the impending typhoon's arrival, citizens have flocked to fresh food markets and supermarkets, resulting in depleted stocks of vegetables and interminable queues at grocery stores. As the city braces for impact, the Hong Kong Observatory foresees heavy rainfall and ferocious winds. Moreover, concerns loom over the surging water levels within the city, raising the specter of potential flooding until Saturday.
Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's flagship airline, has taken proactive measures by cancelling all flights between 2 pm on Friday and 10 am on Saturday. The possibility of further disruptions remains contingent upon the typhoon's trajectory on Saturday morning.
Additional Typhoon Alert: Haikui Targets Taiwan
Simultaneously, Typhoon Haikui is on a course toward Taiwan, with projections indicating landfall on the northern part of the island before advancing towards Fuzhou, an eastern Chinese city. The Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan is closely monitoring Haikui's progress, heightening concerns across the region.