Typhoon Hato slammed into Hong Kong on Wednesday, lashing with wind and rain that uprooted trees and forced most businesses to close. In some places, waves flooded seaside streets. More than 450 flights were cancelled, financial markets suspended and schools closed.  Hato is the first category 10 storm to hit the city since 2012.

 

Neighboring Macao has also been affected. As of this morning, 8 people were confirmed dead and 153 others were injured. The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau, the MGB, hoisted highest signal Number 10 on Wednesday. According to the MGB radar map, Hato came across as near as 40 kilometers to the south of Macao with a maximum wind speed of over 140 kilometers an hour. The MGB also issued a Black Storm Surge Warning, the highest of three levels, indicating the water level is expected to rise more than a meter above road level.