- Death toll from Typhoon Hato climbs to nine in Hong Kong
- Over 150 people reportedly injured
- Hundreds of flights cancelled
- Trading in financial markets has been suspended
- Weather observatory has warned about severe flooding
The death toll from Typhoon Hato has risen to at least nine, as the most powerful storm to hit the southern China region around Hong Kong in more than half a century barrelled west on 23 August, losing strength.
Macau said five people were killed in the gambling enclave, including two men found overnight in a parking garage. Another 153 were listed as injured amid extensive flooding, power outages, and the smashing of doors and windows by the high winds and driving rain.
China's official Xinhua News Agency said four more people were killed in the neighboring province of Guangdong and one person remains missing. Hato roared into the area on Wednesday with winds of up to 160 kilometers (99 miles) per hour.
Xinhua said almost 27,000 people were evacuated to emergency shelters, while extensive damage to farmland due to the heavy rain and high tides was also reported. Almost 2 million households lost power temporarily, while fishing boats were called back to port and train services and flights suspended, Xinhua said.
Flood Alert Issued
Hato churned up water in Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbour and triggered large swells and massive waves on some of the city's most popular beaches, with the weather observatory warning of serious flooding in low-lying areas.
Gusts in some residential areas were already causing damage, sending tarpaulins, roof screens and tree branches flying through the air.
A senior scientific officer for the Hong Kong observatory said sea levels could rise up to 15 feet in some places.
The weather observatory issued a signal 10 storm warning, its highest weather warning, and said Hato will be closest to the territory in the next few hours, skirting about 50 km (31 miles) to the south of Hong Kong, and warned of flash floods.
Trading in Hong Kong's financial markets was delayed on Wednesday morning, the stock exchange said. Trading will be suspended for the whole day if storm signal 8 or higher is in place at noon.
Flights Cancelled, Markets Shut
Hundreds of flights were cancelled, trading in financial markets were suspended and schools and most businesses in the Asian financial hub were closed. The city's flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, said the storm would "severely" impact flight operations, with the majority of flights to and from Hong Kong between 2200 GMT Tuesday and 0900 GMT Wednesday cancelled.
Other transport services, including ferries to the gaming hub of Macau and outlying islands in Hong Kong, were suspended.
Streets were largely deserted as winds intensified and rain lashed down, with many skyscrapers in the heart of the financial centre in darkness as the city battened down for one of the worst storms in years.
Financial markets, schools, businesses and non-essential government services close when the signal 8 or above is hoisted.
Typhoon Nida in August last year was the last storm to close the stock exchange for the whole day.
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(With inputs from AP and Reuters.)
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