Super Typhoon Saola Approaches Hong Kong: Highest Typhoon Warning Issued, Flights Cancelled, and Floods Feared

 China issued its highest typhoon warning on Thursday as Super Typhoon Saola approached Hong Kong and the southern coast. The storm, with wind speeds topping 200km/h, was located around 370km southeast of the Chinese finance hub. The Hong Kong Observatory predicted heavy showers and violent winds for Friday, with the threat level expected to be upgraded to T8.

In response, train services were suspended in Guangdong and several cities in the province delayed the start of the school year. Airline services were also affected, with Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary HK Express cancelling flights to and from Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines also cancelling a number of flights. The observatory warned of potential serious flooding in Hong Kong's low-lying areas and a storm surge similar to the one seen during Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 if Saola skirted the south.

Meanwhile, authorities in Macau considered the possibility of issuing its third-highest typhoon warning. Southern China is often affected by typhoons during the summer and autumn months, but improvements in building codes and flood management systems have reduced the risk of fatalities.