Typhoon Nida lashes Hong Kong

Gale-force wind and heavy rain lashed Hong Kong after Typhoon Nida made landfall near Dapeng Peninsula in China's Guangdong Province. The Hong Kong Observatory reported that Nida had generated winds up to 150 kilometers per hour as it moved toward Hong Kong but showed signs of weakening after it struck land late last night. 

It said, squalls, heavy rain and rough seas battered Hong Kong, located about 42 kilometers from the Dapeng Peninsula, as the storm approached. The government warned of flooding in low-lying areas. People living in Guangdong province in southern China were warned to stockpile food and other essentials. Temporary shelters have been established



while schools in flood-prone areas have contingency plans in place. 

The observatory said that as winds in Hong Kong turn to south-westerlies, places which had been sheltered before would become more exposed to the high winds. Hundreds of train routes and flights had already been canceled in cities across southern China as Nida barreled toward land after battering the Philippines over the weekend.

In China, State Oceanic Administration yesterday issued a red alert for ocean waves and storm tides. Sea waves as high as 11 meters are expected in the northern South China Sea, while the southern Taiwan Strait will witness waves as high as seven meters.