Super Typhoon Saola: highest warning as storm barrels towards southern China

Weather bureau issues red alert, with typhoon expected to make landfall between Huilai in Guangdong and Hong Kong on Friday

Start of school year postponed in many Guangdong cities, and some train services, flights and ferries have been halted

Reading Time:2 minutes

A satellite image shows Super Typhoon Saola moving north towards Taiwan and Guangdong. China’s National Meteorological Centre issued a red alert at 6am on Thursday. Photo: AP

Published: 4:14pm, 31 Aug 2023Updated: 10:02am, 1 Sep 2023

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.

China issued its highest storm warning on Thursday, as Super Typhoon Saola edged closer to the south of the country, threatening Hong Kong and the manufacturing hub of Shenzhen. The southern provinces of Guangdong and Fujian also issued warnings as the powerful storm approaches.

The National Meteorological Centre issued the red alert at 6am, saying the typhoon was expected to move northwest across the South China Sea at 10km/h and make landfall between Huilai in Guangdong and Hong Kong on Friday afternoon or evening.

It said strong winds and storms were expected to hit Guangdong and Fujian on Thursday and Friday.

Windows are taped in Hong Kong as the typhoon approaches. Photo: Sam Tsang

Local governments in the two provinces issued their own typhoon warnings and ordered a string of closures.

In Shenzhen, a blue alert – the lowest on the four-tier system – is expected to be upgraded to yellow around 6pm, and authorities have said schools could be closed.