Typhoon Saola Weakens but Remains a Threat in Southern China

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Typhoon Saola caused extensive damage in Hong Kong but weakened as it moved across southern China. Despite avoiding a direct hit, the region’s strongest storm in decades downed trees and shattered windows in the city. Although the storm has been downgraded, authorities are urging people to remain cautious as it still carries strong winds and creates storm surges in coastal areas.

Millions of people in densely populated coastal regions in southern China sought shelter ahead of the typhoon’s arrival. Hong Kong experienced its highest threat level since World War II during the storm. Despite this, there have been no reported casualties and significantly less damage compared to the powerful Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018.

Although the storm has passed Hong Kong, fallen trees, scaffolding, and broken windows can be seen in the city. Some solar panels on rooftops have also been torn off. The impact of Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 resulted in over 300 injuries, extensive tree damage, and flooding.

While Hong Kong’s airport authority plans to resume flights gradually following mass cancellations and delays, neighboring gambling hub Macau is reopening its casinos that were closed for a day due to the severity of Typhoon Saola.

According to experts, Hong Kong was fortunate that the strongest winds of the typhoon did not directly hit urban areas. Saola made landfall in Zhuhai, a low-lying city in the Pearl River Delta region which includes Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong province. The Chinese national weather office had warned that Saola could potentially become the strongest typhoon to make landfall since 1949.

China’s Guangdong province evacuated over 780,000 people from high-risk areas, returned 80,000 fishery vessels to harbor, and postponed the start of the semester in schools across 13 cities. Eastern Fujian province also relocated more than 100,000 individuals to safer areas.

In addition to Typhoon Saola, another typhoon called Haikui is rapidly approaching Taiwan. Authorities have raised land and sea warnings, although the impact is expected to be mild.

Typhoons are common in southern China during the summer and autumn seasons. Climate change has made tropical storms more erratic and intense, leading to increased rainfall, stronger gusts, flash floods, and coastal damage.

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