A powerful typhoon has made landfall in southeastern China, causing major disruptions to air travel and shipping operations.
Authorities in Hong Kong issued the third highest warning signal for Severe Typhoon Usagi on Sunday, shortly before it hit the port of Shanwei, about 140 kilometers to the east-north-east.
Forecasters said the storm was moving west with sustained winds of 165 kilometers an hour and would pass about 100 kilometers north of Hong Kong late Sunday and early Monday.
Hong Kong's two main airlines, Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, canceled flights in and out of the city, leaving passengers stranded at one of the world's busiest airports. Flights at other Chinese airports in the region also were canceled.
Port operators also suspended operations in Hong Kong and neighboring provinces.
Before weakening slightly on Saturday, Usagi was a classified as a super typhoon, making it one of the year's most powerful cyclones. The storm killed two people in the northern Philippines and injured nine in Taiwan as it moved through the Luzon Strait separating the two regions.
Authorities in Hong Kong issued the third highest warning signal for Severe Typhoon Usagi on Sunday, shortly before it hit the port of Shanwei, about 140 kilometers to the east-north-east.
Forecasters said the storm was moving west with sustained winds of 165 kilometers an hour and would pass about 100 kilometers north of Hong Kong late Sunday and early Monday.
Hong Kong's two main airlines, Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, canceled flights in and out of the city, leaving passengers stranded at one of the world's busiest airports. Flights at other Chinese airports in the region also were canceled.
Port operators also suspended operations in Hong Kong and neighboring provinces.
Before weakening slightly on Saturday, Usagi was a classified as a super typhoon, making it one of the year's most powerful cyclones. The storm killed two people in the northern Philippines and injured nine in Taiwan as it moved through the Luzon Strait separating the two regions.
