HK Sees First Typhoon Signal 8 Of The Year

The observatory issued its first typhoon signal number 8 of the year at 1.40pm on Wednesday afternoon, as Tropical Storm Wipha edged closer to the city on its way to western Guangdong.

Ferry services to outlying islands were suspended.

KMB, Long Win Bus, New World First Bus, Citybus and New Lantao Bus said that by 4pm, almost all of their services had stopped running, as had the tram on Hong Kong Island.

The MTR, which had earlier ramped up the number of trains to help people get home, said services were now being reduced to non-peak schedules.

Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines and HK Express said their flights had not been affected so far, but delays were possible later on.

The Social Welfare Department and the Education Department had already announced the closure of various centres and the suspension of classes for the day.

The observatory, which had issued a Strong Wind Signal No 3 on Tuesday evening, said Wipha had since taken a more northerly track than expected.

The storm will be at its closest point to the territory in the evening, the observatory said, adding the number eight signal is expected to remain in force for most of the rest of the day.

The observatory warned that continued gusts of 110 kilometres an hour or more were already possible in parts of the city.

Some people said they were caught out by the shift in conditions. A Peng Chau resident, surnamed Wu, said the announcement was a sudden one, as the observatory had earlier discounted the chance of a number 8 signal.

So she rushed back to the pier to catch the last ferry at 1.45pm, although she feared the boat ride could be a bit bumpy.

Another office worker, surnamed Ma, said her colleagues who had to take a ferry left work early and those who needed to take the MTR left later on.

"If the typhoon signal remains after 2pm, we get a day off. But I think we are probably not going back to work today," she said, as she headed to Admiralty MTR Station.

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