Latest news with #No10Warning
South China Morning Post
21-07-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong ‘lucky' to have escaped greater damage from Typhoon Wipha: experts
Typhoon Wipha could have caused more damage if its trajectory had moved northwards and edged even closer to Hong Kong, two meteorological experts have said, calling it 'pure luck' that the impact was not greater. A No 8 typhoon signal or above was in force for 19 hours on Sunday, including seven hours for the No 10 hurricane warning, before the Hong Kong Observatory downgraded it to No 3 at 7.40pm, and further lifted all signals at 5.10am on Monday. Over 700 reports of fallen trees were received and at least 33 people were sent to public hospitals as Wipha battered Hong Kong on Sunday, triggering the highest No 10 hurricane warning for seven hours. The toll was relatively mild compared with Super Typhoon Saola in 2023, which also triggered a No 10 warning. At least 86 people were sent to hospital during that storm, which also resulted in 1,545 fallen trees and two landslides. Former Observatory director Lam Chiu-ying said Hong Kong was fortunate that Wipha did not have a greater impact on most residents, even though it reached hurricane levels of wind velocity on Sunday when the No 10 signal was issued. 'If the typhoon track moved 10km (6 miles) to 20km northwards, the whole of the Victoria Harbour area would be affected by level 12 hurricane winds as many live on the two sides of the harbour,' Lam said. 'It was pure luck. It would have been much worse.' He said Wipha, a woman's name in Thai meaning 'splendour' or 'radiance', followed a 'textbook' route of how typhoons typically moved, with a well-defined pattern that enabled earlier and more accurate predictions. Confidence in the forecast was boosted by the use of different models.
South China Morning Post
21-07-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Typhoon Wipha: Hong Kong emerges with dozens hurt, tens of thousands of travellers frustrated
Read more about this: Hong Kong started getting back to normal by the end of July 20, 2025, after being battered by Typhoon Wipha which triggered the highest-level No 10 warning signal, bringing the city to a standstill. Dozens of people were injured, hundreds of trees toppled, and tens of thousands of air travellers were stranded due to cancelled flights. All signals were cancelled as of 5.10am on July 21, 2025.
South China Morning Post
20-07-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Typhoon Wipha: Hong Kong emerges with dozens hurt, travellers frustrated
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP's journalism by subscribing . New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong is getting back to normal after having largely survived the onslaught of Typhoon Wipha, with the tropical cyclone triggering a No 10 warning and leaving dozens injured, hundreds of trees toppled and tens of thousands of travellers dealing with cancellations. A No 8 signal or above was in force for 19 hours on Sunday, including seven hours for the highest No 10 hurricane warning, before the Observatory downgraded it to No 3 at 7.40pm. Throughout the day, 18 men and 15 women were injured and sought medical treatment at accident and emergency units. The number of injuries reached 86 when Super Typhoon Saola hit the city in 2023 and also caused a No 10 warning. More than 270 people sought refuge at the government's 34 temporary shelters. Over 700 reports of fallen trees were received by 8pm, with some leading to road closures and damaging vehicles parked underneath them. All public transport was largely suspended until a gradual resumption in the late afternoon, while 500 flights were cancelled, leaving thousands of angry passengers stranded at the airport and the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus. An Indonesian traveller, who only gave her first name, Amy, said she had to spend more than 30 hours at Hong Kong's airport to secure a new flight after hers to Bali at 10am on Sunday was cancelled.
