Store Shelves Empty As People Brace For Kompasu

Long queues were formed at supermarkets and wet markets across the city on Tuesday afternoon as people rushed to stock up on supplies before Severe Tropical Storm Kompasu hits.

A woman surnamed Li said she visited the supermarket on Monday afternoon but everything was gone, so she arrived earlier on Tuesday.

"I can still buy what I want now, but I may not be able to do so a few hours later," she said, noting the shop was more crowded than last Saturday before Tropical Cyclone Lionrock battered the territory.

An RTHK reporter saw that shoppers grabbed vegetable before staff could put them on shelves, and almost all bread and instant cup noodles have been swept away.

A domestic helper named Marie said she arrived at the supermarket earlier to prepare for the storm.

"Because of the typhoon, we need to be ready and prepare for it so that we don't have to go out tomorrow. It's for our safety as well."

A wet market vendor surnamed Lee, meanwhile, said their sales increased thanks to the typhoon.

"More people come to wet markets in these two days as the storm edges closer. There is panic buying, especially for vegetables."