Tropical Storm Tapah recently brought Hong Kong to a near standstill. Authorities made the call to shut down schools for the day. Many businesses also closed their doors. The entire island felt strong winds and heavy rains, which led to some flight cancellations.
Hong Kong braced itself for the storm on Monday. Thankfully, major damage seemed minimal so far. Roads stayed mostly clear. There were no big landslides or floods reported early in the morning. Still, getting around became tricky for many. Most public transportation stopped running. This included ferries, buses, and trams. The subway system kept moving, but people waited much longer for trains.
The Hong Kong Observatory, the local weather agency, issued a high-level alert. They raised Typhoon Signal Number 8, which is the third highest warning possible. This alert was set to stay in place until at least 11:00 AM. Businesses could reopen if the warning level dropped. However, the Education Bureau issued a direct order: all schools would remain closed for the entire day.
On Monday morning, wind speeds hit hard. Sustained winds of 101 kilometers per hour were recorded. This was near Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island. Gusts were even stronger, reaching 151 kilometers per hour. Alongside the strong winds, an “Amber” rainstorm warning went out at 4:55 AM. This is the lowest of three levels for heavy rain, but still a clear sign of trouble.
Tropical Storm Tapah made landfall in Taishan city, Guangdong province, China. This happened at 8:50 AM local time. Forecasters expected it to move gradually away from Hong Kong later that same day. Hong Kong was not the only place taking precautions. Nearby Shenzhen, another Chinese city, also closed its schools. Both cities aimed to keep everyone safe from the storm.
Source: channelnewsasia