Typhoon Wipha: Hong Kong airport to operate overnight, T3 signal in force – as it happened
Hong Kong Observatory says No 3 signal will remain in force for ‘some time’; amber rainstorm warning cancelled earlier
The Observatory replaced the No 8 storm signal with the No 3 alert on Sunday evening after earlier issuing the No 10 hurricane warning as Typhoon Wipha brought Hong Kong to a halt, while passengers started flooding into the airport as flights gradually resumed.
With Wipha departing the city, the weather forecaster cancelled the amber rainstorm signal at 6.15pm, a little over an hour after it replaced the red rainstorm warning. Hours of heavy rain resulted in flooding in various locations, leading to major roads closing.
The highest-level No 10 signal signifies that winds with mean speeds of 118km/h or more are expected. The last No 10 signal was issued in 2023 during Super Typhoon Saola, which battered the city and caused 86 injuries, uprooted thousands of trees and triggered landslides.
So far under Wipha, 26 people sought medical treatment for typhoon-related injuries at public hospitals, and there had been 471 reports of fallen trees. Some 253 people sought refuge in government shelters.
The No 10 signal was in force for about seven hours. Ahead of that, the No 9 signal was issued at 7.20am, seven hours after the first No 8 warning of the year took effect.
Following the cancellation of 500 weekend flights, the Airport Authority said it would handle about 230 on Sunday night and Monday morning. It said it expected that the airport would be “very busy” on Sunday night.
Bus services were also being restored. The MTR Corporation said services on open sections of railway lines would resume gradually in the evening.
Follow the Post’s updates as Wipha – a woman’s name in Thai meaning “splendour” or “radiance” – bears down on the city.
Reporting by Wynna Wong, Natalie Wong, Oscar Liu, Harvey Kong, Connor Mycroft, Jiang Chuqin, Elizabeth Cheung, Danny Mok and Ng Kang-chung.
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