As Super Typhoon Saola moves closer after causing havoc in the Philippines, Hong Kong is preparing for potential shutdowns, including the closure of its significant $5 trillion stock market, on Friday.
Authorities haven’t specified the exact timing, but disruptions could occur if the No. 8 signal is raised between 7 am and 3:45 p.m. on Friday. This is the second time this year that a storm might affect trading in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Observatory reports that by 7 am local time, the typhoon was about 450 kilometers east-southeast of the city. It’s expected to be nearest to Hong Kong on Friday and Saturday, with its strong winds reaching 210 kilometers (130 miles) per hour.
The observatory plans to raise the T3 storm signal by 5 pm on Thursday and considers the possibility of a T8 alert on Friday. The T8 signal would lead to closures of offices, schools, and public transportation, essentially shutting down the city. Hong Kong’s typhoon scale ranges from 1 (weakest) to 10 (strongest).
Meanwhile, China’s National Meteorological Center issued a red typhoon warning at 6 am (2200 GMT) on Thursday, as Typhoon Saola approached the southeastern coastline. This shows a threat to Hong Kong and manufacturing centers in Guangdong province. The typhoon, located about 295 kilometers southeast of Guangdong, is predicted to move northwest across the South China Sea at around 10 kph (6 miles per hour), reaching the Guangdong coast before weakening, according to Reuters. China Railway suspended some key train lines, and Shanghai halted trains bound for Guangdong.
Earlier, Saola brought heavy rain and winds to Taiwan, leading to travel restrictions and land and sea warnings. The typhoon had also caused flooding in nearly 200 towns in the Philippines and forced about 50,000 people to find safer places. Although Taiwan lifted its land warning, the sea warning remains in effect, according to the island’s Central Weather Bureau.
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