Hong Kong lowers typhoon warning

HONG KONG—Hong Kong lowered its typhoon warning after the deadly Typhoon Nesat swept past the city Thursday, shutting down financial markets, schools and public transport due to strong winds and rain.

The Hong Kong Observatory lowered the No. 8 tropical cyclone warning issued early Thursday to a No. 3 at 4:10 p.m.  (0810 GMT), as winds subsided after the typhoon shifted toward the tropical Chinese island of Hainan.

The storm claimed at least 35 lives in the Philippines before it barreled toward Hong Kong and then Hainan, off China’s southern coast.

“Nesat has made landfall over the northeastern part of (China’s) Hainan Island this afternoon, and continues to move farther away from Hong Kong,” the observatory said as it lowered the warning.

It advised the public to remain alert, however, and stay away from the shoreline under the lowered warning signal. No. 10 is the observatory’s highest typhoon warning signal, indicating a direct hit.

The No. 8 warning was issued Thursday at 4:40 a.m., as winds gusting up to 121 kilometers (75 miles) an hour were recorded in some exposed areas.

A similar No. 8 warning was hoisted in Macau, which is an hour’s ferry ride from Hong Kong, suspending public transportation and closing schools. The warning was still in force late Thursday afternoon.

The No. 8 warning is the highest storm signal raised by Hong Kong this year, after last year’s deadly Typhoon Megi defied predictions and swerved away from the southern Chinese city.

At least 287 flights were disrupted at Hong Kong’s international airport by Thursday afternoon, including 20 cancellations and 245 delays, according to the airport authority, while ports, government offices and courts were also closed.