Typhoon Hato has caused authorities to raise the hurricane threat level to 10 for the first time in five years
ADVERTISEMENTHong Kong has been battered by a powerful typhoon as weather authorities raised the hurricane threat to 10 for the first time in five years.
Offices and schools were closed, the stock market suspended trading, ferries stayed in port, and hundreds of flights were cancelled.
Strong winds and risk of floods
Typohoon Hato brought with it sustained winds of 165 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 192 kilometres per hour.
This is horrible #HongKong#omg#crane#safety#TyphoonHato#scarypic.twitter.com/BcxphuxHQ8
— ping_fan (@impingfan) August 23, 2017
The Hong Kong Observatory warned residents to be prepared for destructive winds, possible flooding and landslip. Low-lying areas were at particular risk of severe flooding due to storm surges.
Next stop: mainland China
Typhoon Hato has no plans to stick around, however: it passed 60 kilometres south of Hong Kong on its way to mainland China, where thousands of people have been evacuated from Guangdong province and waves up to 10 metres high are expected in the South China Sea.