Hong Kong Flights Cancelled As Typhoon Nida Approaches

HONG KONG, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Augst,2016) - Hong Kong hunkered down Monday as Typhoon Nida swirled towards it, with more than 100 flights cancelled and schools closed, and Guangzhou in neighbouring mainland China issued its top storm alert. Hong Kong was expected to raise a "T8" storm signal -- the third-highest -- Monday evening as the storm edged closer to the city, packing winds of 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour. Guangzhou, the capital of neighbouring Guangdong province where Nida was expected to make landfall on Tuesday, issued its first-ever red alert for storms, with schools and outdoor work suspended. Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary Dragonair cancelled all of their flights in and out of Hong Kong for 16 hours.

"Typhoon Nida moves closer to Hong Kong," a statement jointly issued by the two airlines said Monday. "Flight departures and arrivals at Hong Kong International Airport Monday will be suspended from 10 pm until 2 pm" on Tuesday. That will include more than 100 flights, said a spokeswoman for Cathay Pacific, the city's flag carrier. Hong Kong authorities shut kindergartens and special needs learning institutions on Monday. "Local winds are expected to strengthen significantly around dusk," said a weather bulletin.