HONG KONG (AP) – One of the strongest in many years, Super Typhoon Lagatha is taller than streetlights on Hong Kong’s promenade, whipped waves that halted life on the South China coast early on Wednesday. Leaves fatal destruction in Taiwan And the Philippines.
In Taiwan, 14 people died in flooded towns, and four people reported deaths In the Philippines.
The intense winds awakened Hong Kong residents early, and many people online described scenes where kitchen ventilation fans were blown away and cranes shook.
The strong winds blew off part of the roof of a pedestrian bridge, knocking down hundreds of trees around town. The area around the two rivers and the boardwalk was flooded. Approximately 20 injured people were treated at the hospital.
Approximately 1.9 million people have moved to Guangdong, a major economic powerhouse in southern China. The National Weather Agency predicts that Super Timbus will land between the cities of Taipei and Zhang Jang in the afternoon and evening. Schools, factories and transportation services have been suspended in about 12 cities.
Nearby casino hubs Hong Kong and Macau have cancelled schools and flights and closed many stores. Hundreds of people called for evacuation at temporary centres in each city. One was injured in Macau.
The Hong Kong Observatory said it had the largest sustained wind near the center of about 195 kph (120 mph), and it skirted it towards about 100 kph (62 miles) south of the financial hub. It was predicted that it would continue to travel in the west or northwest at approximately 22 kph (about 14 mph).
The city has strongly classified cyclones in sustained winds of over 185 kph as Super Tekijouz, and is now even more wary of severe storms.
The government previously said that the rise in water levels could be similar to that recorded in 2018 typhoon Mangkhut.
Lagatha previously caused death and damage in Taiwan and the Philippines after a typhoon stepped out the road between them.
In Taiwan, heavy rains overflowed the barrier lake in Healian County on Tuesday, and muddy water rapids destroyed bridges and transformed the wider town’s roads into rivers carrying vehicles and furniture. Guangfu has around 8,450 people, more than half of them seek safety on the higher floors and high altitudes of their homes. Local authorities said 14 people have been killed and 124 others in town have lost contact. Taiwan’s Central News Agency said rescuers were visiting door-to-door to check on these residents.
Separately, 34 people were injured across the island where they had self-emitted.
At least four deaths have been reported in the Philippines, including an elderly man stuck on a rocky area. It was affected by an onslaught in the major Philippine region of Luzon, including 25,000 people who fled to government emergency shelters.
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Associated Press journalists Jim Gomez of Manila, Philippines, and Johnson Lye of Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to the report.
