Super Typhoon Mangkhut: city’s residents prepare for worst as most powerful storm since records began edges closer to Hong Kong
Residents begin boarding up homes, building flood defences and stocking up on essential supplies as cost of everyday items soars ahead of weekend
Hongkongers began preparing for the worst on Thursday, boarding up windows, building flood defences, and stocking up on essential items as Super Typhoon Mangkhut edged ever closer to the city.
Predicted to be the most powerful storm since records began, with maximum sustained winds of up to 240km/h (149mph), the tropical cyclone is forecast to pass within 100km (62 miles) of the city on Sunday morning.
As of Thursday afternoon, the storm was located 575km (357 miles) east-northeast of the Philippines with winds gusting up to 255km/h (140mph).
Queenie Lam Ching-chi, senior scientific officer at the Observatory said the typhoon “could be very close to Hong Kong”.
“It has a large circulation with intense winds, so even if it is not a direct hit … it can constitute a great danger to Hong Kong.”