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The No 10 hurricane signal will remain in force till 4.10pm on Sunday, when the warning will be lowered to a No 8 gale or storm signal as Typhoon Wipha starts to weaken, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
The No 10 signal, the highest-level warning, means that winds with mean speeds of 118km/h or more are expected. The last No 10 signal was during Super Typhoon Saola in 2023, with the storm causing 86 injuries, landslides and thousands of trees to fall.
The top signal will remain in force until early Sunday afternoon, according to the forecaster.
So far, Wipha has led to 14 people seeking medical treatment at public hospitals and 240 reports of fallen trees, while 234 people have sought refuge in government shelters.
The No 9 signal was issued at 7.20am on Sunday, hours after the first No 8 warning of the year took effect. Adverse weather will persist with heavy squally showers during the day.
Following the cancellation of 500 weekend flights, the Airport Authority said 400 could resume in the afternoon at the earliest after the typhoon moved away from the city. It expects that the airport will be “very busy” on Sunday night to disperse up to 100,000 passengers.
Several MTR lines will maintain a limited service, although those on open sections including the Light Rail and Airport Express have been suspended. Most ferry and bus services have also been suspended.
Follow the Post’s updates as Wipha – a woman’s name in Thai meaning “splendour” or “radiance” – bears down on the city.
Reporting by Wynna Wong, Natalie Wong, Oscar Liu, Harvey Kong, Connor Mycroft, Jiang Chuqin and Elizabeth Cheung.