Strong winds lift dry women off the ground... 'Malicious Typhoon' Saola Hits China and Hong Kong Hard

The 9th typhoon, 'Saola,' struck southern China and Hong Kong. To escape the strong winds blowing at 40 meters per second, 880,000 residents of Guangdong Province evacuated, and public institutions and businesses were closed. In Hong Kong alone, 75 people were injured, and at least one person died in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.

A woman who was blown over and flew about ten meters by the strong winds of Typhoon Saola in Hong Kong.
Photo by X

Although the overall damage caused by Saola has not yet been reported, it is considered the most powerful typhoon to hit southern China in 74 years.

According to China's Xinhua News Agency on the 2nd (local time), the China Central Meteorological Observatory reported that Typhoon Saola made landfall near the southern coast of Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, around 3:30 a.m. that day. At the time of landfall, the maximum wind speed near the center was 45 meters per second (162 km/h), and the minimum central pressure was 950 hPa.

The first floor of a building believed to be in Hong Kong was flooded due to Typhoon Saola.
[Photo by X]

The China Meteorological Administration issued a level 2 emergency response for the typhoon. It warned that there is a very high possibility of flooding due to heavy rain in parts of Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

Shenzhen Airport in Guangdong Province was closed from the previous day, and all flight operations were suspended. Around 4,000 trains, 147 shipping routes, and about 360 passenger ships in the area also stopped operating. The opening of elementary schools, middle schools, and kindergartens in 13 cities was postponed until the 4th.

In Shenzhen, a tree that suddenly fell crushed a passenger car, killing one person inside and injuring two others. The overall damage has not yet been fully assessed.

Hong Kong entered the direct impact zone of Typhoon Saola on the 1st, and Hong Kong authorities warned that Saola could become the strongest super typhoon to hit since Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. As a result, the Hong Kong stock market, schools, and public institutions were closed, and public transportation was suspended.

In Shenzhen, China, a tree toppled by Typhoon Saola fell onto vehicles, causing casualties.
[Photo by X]

In Hong Kong, where Saola passed earlier than in China, damage such as fallen trees, broken structures, and river flooding occurred in many places. By the afternoon of the 2nd, Hong Kong authorities had received more than 1,200 damage reports, including fallen trees.

Damage caused by Saola was continuously posted on social networking services (SNS). A dizzying scene was captured on Hong Kong streets where a woman was blown away about ten meters by the strong winds. Even after falling to the ground, she was unable to stand up for some time.

Searching the hashtag 'Saola' on SNS showed images of seawater flooding over the breakwater into the city in the Tung Chung area of Hong Kong, submerging residential areas.

Chinese meteorological authorities expect the 11th typhoon, 'Haikui,' to approach Guangdong Province in the early morning of the 6th and urged special caution.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense has deployed five helicopters and over 5,500 personnel to prepare for emergency response operations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.