Typhoon Haima batters Hong Kong as city locks down

A man looks on while walking in front of big waves along a waterfront as Typhoon Haima approaches in Hong Kong on Oct 21, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
Big waves hit a waterfront as Typhoon Haima approaches in Hong Kong on Oct 21, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
Big waves hit a waterfront as Typhoon Haima approaches in Hong Kong on Oct 21, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
A man uses a smartphone under strong winds near a waterfront as Typhoon Haima approaches in Hong Kong on Oct 21, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
Residents walk on a ferry pier at Hong Kong's Lamma Island during a typhoon signal eight warning on Oct 21, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
A man jogs along a promenade running along Victoria Harbour as Typhoon Haima approaches Hong Kong early on Oct 21, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
A general view of the island skyline as Typhoon Haima approaches in Hong Kong, China on Oct 21, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
A woman walks past protective wooden boards placed in front of glass doors, as Typhoon Haima approaches Hong Kong early on Oct 21, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
A man stands at a pier facing the island skyline as Typhoon Haima approaches in Hong Kong, China on Oct 21, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

HONG KONG (AFP) - The usually frenetic streets of Hong Kong were deserted on Friday (Oct 21) as the city was battered by Typhoon Haima after the storm left a trail of deaths and damage in the Philippines.

More than 700 flights in and out of Hong Kong were cancelled or delayed, roads were clear of cars and pavements empty, with schools and offices shut as the storm passed east of the city and hit southern mainland China.

Trading on the city's stock exchange was also cancelled for the day.

As Haima swept past Hong Kong in the early afternoon, trees were felled by winds, and waves crashed over coastal roads.

The storm made landfall near Shanwei in China's southern Guangdong province on Friday afternoon, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.

The observatory issued a Number 8 storm signal - the third-highest warning level.

"As the western part of Haima's eye wall is rather close to Hong Kong, gales will affect the territory for some time," the observatory said.

It warned the public to stay away from the shoreline due to rough seas, but many residents turned storm watchers.

In the western neighbourhood of Kennedy Town, people laughed and joked as they were soaked by waves.

"I'm from Nepal and I used to live by a lake. I like playing with the water. I'm not afraid of the water," said one resident who gave his name as Raju. Others jogged, fished and practised tai chi as the storm rolled in.

Rain poured down into the early afternoon and wind gusted up to 105km per hour.

Ferry services including the city's famous cross-harbour Star Ferry were cancelled.

Hong Kong's flagship carrier Cathay Pacific said it expected "significant disruptions" to its flights between 11 am and 10 pm on Friday.

Underground metro train services were also reduced and all buses cancelled.

The government has set up more than 20 shelters and the city is expected to remain in lockdown for most of Friday until the storm passes.

It comes after a week of downpours in Hong Kong that brought severe flooding to some parts of the city.

Traffic was caught in torrents of water flowing down main roads on Wednesday as the observatory issued its severest "black rainstorm" warning.

One elderly man became a local hero after online images of him calmly reading a newspaper in a flooded branch of Starbucks went viral, earning him the nickname "Starbucks uncle".

Haima, which means "seahorse" in Chinese, has wreaked havoc in the Philippines where it brought ferocious gales and landslides.

Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed and at least eight people are reported dead so far.

When it hit the Philippines late Wednesday night, Haima was categorised as a super typhoon.

It has since been downgraded to a typhoon as wind speeds at its centre have dropped from 200km an hour to 145km an hour.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.