Typhoon Pakhar triggers No. 8 Signal in Hong Kong

Hong Kong issued a No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal Sunday morning in the face of severe tropical storm Pakhar.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued at 5:10 a.m. local time the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal, which means that winds with speeds of 63 km per hour or more are expected from the southeast quarter.

In a report updated at around 10:00 a.m., the observatory said Severe Tropical Storm Pakhar has made landfall in Guangdong province and is forecast to move north-northwest at 28 km per hour into inland Guangdong.

In the past hour, winds occasionally reached storm force in the southwestern part of Hong Kong and occasionally reached hurricane force on high ground of certain islands, it said, adding that the No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal is expected to persist for the whole morning.

An Amber Rainstorm Warning Signal was issued at the same time. The observatory said rainbands associated with Pakhar are bringing occasional heavy showers and squalls to Hong Kong and there may be flooding in low-lying areas.

This is the second time in this week that Hong Kong issued a No. 8 or above tropical cyclones warning signal.

A No. 10 Hurricane signal was issued Wednesday in the face of severe typhoon Hato.

After the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal was issued, classes of all day schools, public hospitals' general out-patient clinics and some of the city's public services were suspended.

The China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan and Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal in Tuen Mun were closed temporarily. The Airport Authority Hong Kong reported that a total of 140 flights had been canceled as at 6:00 a.m. Sunday.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 8:35 a.m., a total of 17 people, including eight men and nine women, aged between 24 and 83 had sought medical treatment at public hospitals during the typhoon period.

The call center of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has received 85 reports of fallen tree as at 10:00 a.m.

As at 9:10 a.m., the Home Affairs Department of the HKSAR government had opened 27 temporary shelters in various districts and 218 people had sought refuge at the shelters.