Tropical Storm Wipha: some 718 flights cancelled or delayed after year’s first No 8 typhoon signal issued
- Ferry companies suspend services and second amber rainstorm alert in a day also triggered
- MTR increases frequency of trains to meet demand and deploys extra staff at stations
More than 700 flights were cancelled or delayed on Wednesday, and Hong Kong came to a near standstill with transport services suspended as Tropical Storm Wipha hit the city.
Wipha also brought the year’s first No 8 typhoon warning, which was downgraded to a No 3 warning at 11.40pm as the storm continued to pass Hong Kong.
Apart from the No 8 typhoon signal raised at 1.40pm, Wipha also brought two amber rainstorm warnings to the city in the afternoon, which were upgraded to a red one between 8pm and 9.30pm. The two warnings meant heavy rain, exceeding 30mm and 50mm in an hour respectively, had fallen or was expected to fall over Hong Kong and was likely to continue.
At 6.45pm, the Observatory said Wipha was at its closest to Hong Kong, skirting some 300km southwest.
“[Wipha] will begin to gradually depart from the territory tonight,” the forecaster said, adding that stormy conditions would persist for most of the night.
Maximum sustained wind speeds near the centre of Wipha, a Thai name for women, hit 85km/h at 5pm.
The Observatory said at 10.45pm Wipha would continue to move away from Hong Kong and winds would weaken locally.
At least 16 people – six men and 10 women – sought medical treatment at public hospitals during the storm while the government received 10 reports of fallen trees.
The Airport Authority said at 11pm that a total of 693 flights had been delayed and 25 flights cancelled by Wednesday.
A spokeswoman said: “The airport has activated the Airport Emergency Centre to coordinate operations.” The authority advised passengers to stay alert to airline announcements and to confirm their seats before heading to the airport.
According to the airport’s flight information at 5.15pm, nine flights by Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China were cancelled, among others. The flights were to destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei, and were initially expected to depart later in the evening.
Meanwhile, New World First Bus and Citybus announced at 4.30pm that all routes had been suspended except route S1 between Tung Chung MTR station and the airport, as well as route B3M between Shenzhen Bay port and Tuen Mun Station, which maintained a limited service.
By around 5pm, the MTR’s Airport Express shuttle bus services were also suspended.
The Education Bureau in the morning suspended all school classes.
The MTR Corporation said it would raise the frequency of all services to meet increased demand and that additional staff were deployed at stations.
Rail services would continue to run during the storm. The company advised office workers to stagger their departure from work to avoid overcrowding at stations.
KMB announced at around 2pm that all daytime bus services were running as normal except the suspension of route No 51 between Nina Tower in Tsuen Wan and Sheung Tsuen in Yuen Long.
First Ferry said at noon it would suspend all local ferry services, with the last sailing from Central to Cheung Chau at 3.15pm. The last ferry to Cheung Chau from Chi Ma Wan on Lantau would depart at 2.20pm. An additional ferry would be arranged to Yung Shue Wan on Lamma Island, to depart at 1.15pm, according to staff at Central ferry pier.
At 12.45pm, Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry announced its services would be suspended with the last sailings from Central to Yung Shue Wan pier and Sok Kwu Wan pier on Lamma Island at 3pm and 2.30pm respectively.
The Star Ferry running from Tsim Sha Tsui to either Central or Wan Chai would stop service at 2.45pm and trams running on Hong Kong Island would end this afternoon, with the last departure from Western Market in Sheung Wan to Shau Kei Wan at 4pm.
Ed Williams, 50, who works in digital marketing in North Point, rushed to catch the MTR as soon as he heard the signal would be raised.
He said he was not at all prepared for the typhoon 8 signal to be raised.
“It looked like it was going to go away from Hong Kong, but once I saw the signal I decided to leave work,” Williams said.
Yeung Mitchell, a graphic designer who works in Wan Chai was also caught off guard.
“I was completely unprepared because the Observatory had said it would not change the warning earlier,” said Yeung, 59.
She took a cab to the pier and was waiting for a family member to join her before boarding the ferry. She also said she hadn’t prepared any food.
“I only have some instant noodles,” she said.
A light show which is held across Victoria Harbour every evening would be cancelled on Wednesday night.
The Office of the Communications Authority said under the inclement weather, the public might be eager to contact relatives and friends and cause serious congestion in the telecommunication network.
“If your phone calls cannot get through instantly or you experience very slow broadband services, please try again later to avoid further burden on the networks,” the authority said.
