Hong Kong hit by strong typhoon

Typhoon Vicente hit East China and Hong Kong during the night of Tuesday 24th bringing winds of more than 140 km/h and heavy downpours.

According to local medical authorities, 120 people were injured and 15 hospitalised. The typhoon caused the closure of the Hong Kong stock exchange for the morning and reopened in the afternoon.

The initial storm warning was set at the highest rating of 10, the first time this level has been used in 13 years, then downgraded to 8 on Tuesday morning. Public transportation was suspended or delayed and some underground stations became shelters for the city inhabitants unable to return home because of the service suspension. A landslide hit the Peak hill that towers above the island, without causing any injuries.

Around 44 flights were cancelled and a further 270 were delayed at the Hong Kong international airport while many connections with the islands were stopped.

After Hong Kong, the Vicente typhoon reached the Chinese province of Guangdong before moving toward Guangxi. As a precaution, many flights have been cancelled at the Zhuhai airport and local trains have been delayed or cancelled.

Travellers in the region have experienced severe disruption over the past 24 hours. If you are due to travel to Eastern China or Hong Kong imminently, please check with your airline or transport provider for the latest information.