Typhoon Koinu: Over 70 Flights Suspended, School Operations Cancelled As It Nears Hongkong

Typhoon Koinu is threatening Hongkong with heavy rains and this prompted authorities to cancel flights and suspend school operations.

(Photo : Getty Images/Peter Parks)

Weather officials have raised wind alerts, which effectively shut down the entire city and restricted the services of subway trains.

Due to the bad weather, more than 70 flights were cancelled and other transport services have suspended their operations.

Furthermore, operations of schools have been cancelled and weather experts have already advised locals to avoid low-lying areas.

Effects

According to the Hongkong Observatory, the rainbands associated with Koinu will still bring squally showers and thunderstorms to Hongkong.

Weather experts warned that the rain showers would be heavy at times.

Moreover, the Strong Wind Signal, No. 3 will remain in effect for quite some time. This means that winds with mean speeds of 41 to 62 kilometres per hour are still expected.

At noon, weather experts said that Koinu was estimated to be at about 160 kilometers west-southwest of Hong Kong (near 21.6 degrees north 112.8 degrees east) and is forecasted to move west-southwest at about 12 kilometers per hour across the western coast of Guangdong.

Meteorologists said that when the threat posed to Hongkong by Koinu is further reduced, the Observatory will issue the Standby Signal, No. 1 or it will cancel all tropical cyclone warning signals.

In the past hour, the maximum sustained winds recorded at Waglan Island was 69 kilometers per hour, with maximum gusts exceeding 82 kilometers per hour.

Authorities said that Koinu continues to depart from Hongkong and the local winds are weakening gradually.

Koinu pounded Taiwan with massive rains and powerful wind last week and over the weekend, it moved towards the south area over the sea off the coast of China's Guangdong province.

It moved towards the resort island of Hainan, with its intensity nearly unchanged from a day earlier.

Authorities said that Koinu killed one person and injured almost 400 people in Taiwan.

Precautions

Amid the bad weather, precautionary measures and announcements have been released by authorities to ensure the safety of the residents.

They noted that the tropical cyclone brought different degrees of damages to Hongkong, adding that there could be hidden danger. Residents and the general public should remain on heightened alert for assurance of personal safety.

Furthermore, the public is advised to avoid staying in areas where they could be exposed to high winds. Drivers using highways and flyovers should be alert to violent gusts.

The construction and property management practitioners should make sure that overhanging facilities and temporary structures outdoors are securely fastened or placed on the ground, and complete precautionary measures as soon as possible.

Meteorologists also said that seas are still rough and the threat of swells have remained. Residents are also advised to stay away from the shoreline and low-lying areas, and not to engage in water sports.

Authorities also urged residents to listen to radio, watch TV or browse the Hong Kong Observatory's website and its mobile app for the latest information on the tropical cyclone.

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