Typhoon Hato hits China; flights cancelled

Hato, the 13th typhoon to hit China this year, made landfall in the city of Zhuhai in the southern Guangdong Province, bringing gales of up to 45 metres per second.

The National Meteorological Center said Hato will move west and scale down to a tropical storm passing through Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region tonight. No casualties were reported in Guangdong Province.

So far, 13 cities and counties in Guangdong have issued red alerts for the typhoon. Gales and downpours have suspended work, classes, and production in the cities of



Zhuhai, Jiangmen and Zhongshan.

Several expressways have also been closed. Initial investigation showed that the typhoon blew down over 2,000 trees, damaged signs, railings and fences on roads in the province.

Power supplies were disrupted in some areas but had been partially restored. Flights were disrupted in Guangxi and rail services delayed or cancelled in Yunnan Province. The provincial flood control headquarters warned the typhoon will also bring heavy rains to central China's Hunan Province.