Megi weakens but threat remains
Source: Agencies |
October 22, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TYPHOON Megi's threat appeared to ease yesterday as it approached southern China, but wary residents continued their preparations for a storm that killed 20 people and damaged thousands of homes when it slammed into the northern Philippines.
Megi, which was 420 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong late yesterday, was generating winds of 175kph - much weaker than the winds it inflicted on the Philippines, the Hong Kong Observatory said.
After making landfall in Guangdong Province tomorrow, it is expected to pare back to winds of 145kph and then further weaken into a tropical storm as it moves inland, the observatory said.
Still, officials and residents in the region were wary, given the destruction Megi wreaked earlier in the week.
In the Philippines, the storm forced 11,000 people from their homes and caused about US$110 million worth of damage.
An observatory official warned that despite losing steam, Megi was still the strongest typhoon to hit the South China Sea this year.
In Guangdong, tens of thousands of fishing boats have returned to harbor. Officials are said to be moving residents to high ground and shelters in anticipation of landslides.
In Fujian Province, more than 150,000 people have been evacuated, local officials said.
Meanwhile, residents in Tai O, a suburban Hong Kong village known for its coastal homes on stilts, have installed barricades and moved household appliances to higher ground, Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper reported.
Hong Kong port operator Modern Terminals said it would stop processing heavy freight at midnight. Just north of Hong Kong, Shenzhen's Shekou port was also reported to be partially closed.
Megi, which was 420 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong late yesterday, was generating winds of 175kph - much weaker than the winds it inflicted on the Philippines, the Hong Kong Observatory said.
After making landfall in Guangdong Province tomorrow, it is expected to pare back to winds of 145kph and then further weaken into a tropical storm as it moves inland, the observatory said.
Still, officials and residents in the region were wary, given the destruction Megi wreaked earlier in the week.
In the Philippines, the storm forced 11,000 people from their homes and caused about US$110 million worth of damage.
An observatory official warned that despite losing steam, Megi was still the strongest typhoon to hit the South China Sea this year.
In Guangdong, tens of thousands of fishing boats have returned to harbor. Officials are said to be moving residents to high ground and shelters in anticipation of landslides.
In Fujian Province, more than 150,000 people have been evacuated, local officials said.
Meanwhile, residents in Tai O, a suburban Hong Kong village known for its coastal homes on stilts, have installed barricades and moved household appliances to higher ground, Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper reported.
Hong Kong port operator Modern Terminals said it would stop processing heavy freight at midnight. Just north of Hong Kong, Shenzhen's Shekou port was also reported to be partially closed.
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