Pedestrians walk past a traffic fence blown down by Typhoon Hagupit yesterday morning. The effects of the tropical storm hit the city and outlying islands hard. CNS

Hong Kong avoided a direct hit by Typhoon Hagupit yesterday, but the far-reaching effects of the storm caused rare flooding not seen in decades in some low-lying areas.

The floods and debris injured dozens, and 13 victims still remained in hospitals last night.

There was plenty of warning for the storm, which resulted in a T8 storm signal being issued. But 58 people aged 6 to 89 sustained injuries that sent them to hospitals. Three were listed in serious condition yesterday, 10 were stable and the rest had been released.

There were 16 reports of flooding, 46 of fallen trees and trunks on roadsides, and seven of collapsed scaffolding.

As for the air transport, more than 450 flights were delayed or canceled.

As Hagupit pulled away from Hong Kong yesterday, the Hong Kong Observatory downgraded the signal to T3 at 6:30 am, and all signals were canceled at 12:50 pm.

The typhoon weakened after making landfall in western Guangdong province yesterday morning.

Outlying islands in particular were hit hard by flooding.

According to the Observatory, the phenomenon was caused by a combined effect of high tides and the powerful typhoon.

The sea level rose more than a meter higher than normal, the Observatory said.

About 30 residents in Cheung Chau were evacuated after the balcony of a three-story villa collapsed as rocks beneath it were washed away by waves and threatened the foundation. The building's wall, glass doors and fences were left in pieces. A resident said the wave struck as high as the second floor.

Another who lived next door said: "As the wave crashed into the building, it was like being attacked by a small bomb. I heard a bang, after which the building was shaking".

Tai O was another area almost swallowed up by flooding.

"It's like a catastrophe. It has never been like this in the last 50 years," a Tai O resident said.

The flood came as high as one-story. Some people were trapped in the houses and had to be rescued by firemen. The water didn't subside until after dawn yesterday.

The Islands District Office (IDO) helped Tai O residents clear the sand and mud from their houses, while the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department removed the debris and rubbish on streets left behind by the flooding. The government said it would help individual households whose electricity was still out.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and make every effort to provide appropriate assistance to the residents. Residents who are affected by the flood and have financial difficulties may apply to the IDO for emergency relief funds," a spokesman for the District Office said.

Residents who could not go home due to the flooding were put up at a nearby estate in Tai O.

Flooding of some seafood shops, particularly in Lei Yue Mun, killed or washed away many fish, and owners anticipated their losses to be many thousands of dollars.

(HK Edition 09/25/2008 page1)