No 8 warning issued for severe tropical storm Chaba as it approaches Hong Kong

A woman tries to hold onto her umbrella amid strong winds due to severe Tropical Storm Chaba in the Central District of Hong Kong on July 1, 2022. ANDY CHONG CHINA DAILY HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Observatory said the No 8 Gale or Storm Signal would remain in force before 4 pm today as severe tropical storm Chaba intensified into a typhoon.

The observatory raised the signal at 7: 10 pm Friday, meaning winds with mean speeds of 63 kilometers per hour or more are expected to come from the southeast quarter.

In a weather bulletin issued at 8: 45 am Saturday, the HKO said Chaba is currently closest to Hong Kong, skirting about 300 kilometers southwest of the territory.

Chaba will have landfall near Zhanjiang this afternoon to this evening, according to its current track.

The bulletin reads that gale force winds are still affecting many places in the territory, while winds occasionally reach storm force offshore and on high ground.

It said that gales associated with Chaba will affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary in the early afternoon.

Chaba was centered about 320 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong and is expected to move northwest at about 16 kilometers per hour in the general direction of western Guangdong at 9 am.

One person has been injured during the typhoon as of 4 am Saturday, according to the Hospital Authority. The person received treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of a public hospital.

The Home Affairs Department said 25 temporary shelters have been opened in various districts and 81 people have sought refuge at the shelters.

The government received 21 reports of fallen trees as of 6 am Saturday.

Classes of all day schools are suspended Saturday, according to the Education Bureau.

All social service units of the Social Welfare Department, child care centers, centers providing after school care programs, elderly services centers, and day rehabilitation units, vocational training centers and day activity centers will not be open to the public.

The Judiciary announced on Saturday that all court hearings, including any admission proceedings, are adjourned.

Residents seek shelter amid strong winds due to severe tropical storm Chaba in the Central District of Hong Kong on July 1, 2022. ANDY CHONG CHINA DAILY In a separate statement, the Hospital Authority announced that all designated clinics for COVID- 19 confirmed cases, general out-patient clinics, specialist out-patient clinics, allied health and other day services will be closed Saturday morning.

Patients who have scheduled appointments are advised to make a new appointment after the cancellation of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No 8, according to the statement.

The distribution and collection of specimens for COVID 19 testing at selected general outpatient clinics will be suspended. The service of the Accident and Emergency Department at public hospitals remains normal.

All Community Vaccination Centres under the COVID 19 vaccine programme will remain closed. They will resume the vaccination service three hours after the cancellation of the No 8 signal and they will operate until normal closing time.