Typhoon Wipha has made landfall in China’s southern Guangdong province, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall to cities across the region and causing widespread disruptions.
The storm reached the coast of Taishan city around 5:55 p.m. local time on Sunday, according to state broadcaster CCTV, after sweeping through Hong Kong earlier in the day and prompting the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
Upon landfall, Wipha weakened to a severe tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds reaching 30 meters per second. Despite the downgrade, its impact was still severe. In Zhuhai, Guangdong province, strong winds battered the city, while other nearby cities including Shenzhen, Macao, and Hainan were placed on high alert.
In Hong Kong, the storm brought the city to a near standstill. The Hong Kong Observatory had raised the typhoon warning signal to 10 — its highest level — for nearly seven hours before lowering it to signal 8 as conditions slightly eased.
Over 110mm of rainfall was recorded in just three hours, with the heaviest downpours falling in the northern districts closest to mainland China. Authorities warned of continued rainfall and potential flooding.
The storm’s force caused significant damage in urban areas. In North Point, near Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour, large sections of scaffolding were torn from a residential building and hurled onto the street by the wind.
The Airport Authority of Hong Kong reported that around 500 flights were canceled, while another 400 were scheduled for later in the day, impacting an estimated 80,000 travelers. Cathay Pacific Airways suspended all flights between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m., waiving change fees and offering rebooking options to passengers.
Public transportation was also heavily affected, with ferry services suspended due to dangerously high sea swells and much of the city’s transport system grinding to a halt. Authorities reported that 26 people had sought medical treatment in public hospitals, 253 residents took refuge in emergency shelters, and 471 incidents of fallen trees were documented across the city.
As the storm system moves inland, Chinese authorities continue to monitor its trajectory closely. Residents across Guangdong and Hainan provinces have been urged to remain cautious, avoid coastal areas, and prepare for possible flash floods and further disruptions in the aftermath of Typhoon Wipha’s powerful landfall.
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