Hong Kong facing very hot weather under influence of approaching Typhoon Haikui, low chance of upgrading T1 alert
- Observatory says path of coming storm still uncertain and No 1 signal will remain in force for most of Monday
- Hong Kong leader John Lee has revealed that a joint emergency plan is being formulated with the Greater Bay Area
The Observatory has warned of very hot weather this week with temperatures hitting 31 degrees Celsius (87.8 Fahrenheit) or more under the effects of approaching Typhoon Haikui, while Hong Kong’s leader has revealed a joint emergency plan is being formulated with the Greater Bay Area.
Authorities on Monday said Hong Kong was back to normal following the weekend battering by Super Typhoon Saola, having been confronted by around 3,700 fallen trees, two mudslides, 21 flooding incidents and about 40 cases involving structures such as scaffolding, signs and windows as of Sunday.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he had for the first time authorised a “government-wide mobilisation” led by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau after Saola moved away from the city.
Hong Kong braces for Typhoon Haikui, as economic hit from Saola put at billions
“Around 100 personnel from various departments have been mobilised to form emergency teams. Over the past two days, they have provided support and carried out post-disaster work in multiple districts,” Lee said.
Separately, he told a forum that Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area, such as Macau and Shenzhen, did not suffer major damage from Saola because of proper contingency plans and effective communication.
Lee said the government was formulating a new Greater Bay Area emergency response operational plan that aimed to enhance the ability to handle urgent matters together with neighbouring cities.
The Observatory said the No 1 signal, issued at 4.40am on Monday, would remain in force for most of the day, marking the second storm to threaten the city in less than a week.
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Downed trees and flooding as Super Typhoon Saola passes through Hong Kong
Haikui, meaning sea anemone in Chinese, is expected to make landfall over the coast of eastern Guangdong to southern Fujian on Tuesday morning.
It was then expected to move inland into eastern Guangdong and weaken gradually, the forecaster said, adding the chance of issuing a higher warning signal before 5am on Tuesday was not high.
Saola, the most powerful storm to hit the city since Super Typhoon Mangkhut five years, brought Hong Kong to a standstill on Friday and Saturday, leaving streets strewn with debris and fallen trees.
Typhoon Saola leaves debris, fallen trees on Hong Kong roads, but impact small
Although Saola ripped up about 3,700 trees, Mangkhut uprooted more than 60,800 across the city when it struck Hong Kong in 2018.
The Development Bureau initiated large-scale inspections to identify and promptly address potential risks posed by signs, trees and scaffoldings affected by Saola, the government said.
Tree management units handled more than 6,000 storm-affected trees, including removing about 2,000 with risks and stabilising and pruning the rest as necessary.
As of Sunday, the Buildings Department had identified 36 cases involving loose signs, scaffolding, windows or damaged structures requiring follow-up action.
Multiple residents in Tseung Kwan O posted pictures on social media of broken windows or cracked glass at home caused by the strong winds of Saola on Saturday.
Good communication and lessons learned ‘spared Hong Kong the worst of Saola’
Sai Kung district councillor Christine Fong Kwok-shan said about a dozen cases of broken windows were reported at each housing development in the Tseung Kwan O area.
“It can be very difficult for residents,” Fong told a Monday radio programme. “For large windows that are broken, it may take two weeks to a month to have them replaced.”
In the meantime, she said, makeshift measures such as wooden boards had been used to fill the gaps.
She suggested management companies increase manpower during typhoon season to help residents on such matters, noting each development in the area, such as Lohas Park, had several thousand households.
She also said more reusable wooden boards to fill broken windows could be prepared in advance for emergency and makeshift measures during typhoons.
