No 9 Storm Signal Remains As Higos Skirts Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Observatory on Wednesday morning issued the typhoon signal No 9 at 1.30am, as Typhoon Higos unleashed strong winds in the city.

The Education Department has announced that schools will be closed on Wednesday.

At 4.45am, the observatory said Higos is expected to start moving away from Hong Kong and will then make landfall to the west of Pearl River Estuary.

The amber rainstorm warning was issued at 11.20pm on Tuesday evening. The landslip warning was issued at 5.45am on Wednesday morning.

Forecasters warned that winds will be higher over the western part of Hong Kong, and there'll be high seas with swells. Officials urged members of the public to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports.

They also said a storm surge could cause some flooding in the morning.

At 6am, Higos was centred about 90 kilometres south-southwest of Hong Kong and is forecast to move about 20 kilometres per hour towards the west of the Pearl River estuary.

The Strong Wind Signal No 3 was issued at 2.20pm on Tuesday, before it was replaced by the to No 8 at 10.40pm.

According to a senior scientific officer of the observatory, Kong Wai, winds will moderate later on Wednesday, but there will still be occasional showers on Thursday.

The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 36 temporary shelters in various districts and 50 people have sought refuge at the shelters.

As at 1.30am, the 1823 Government Call Centre had received five reports of fallen trees. No reports of landslide or flooding have been received so far.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 1am, no people had sought medical treatment at public hospitals during the typhoon period.