Hundreds of trains and flights have been canceled in cities across southern China as Typhoon Nida barrels toward land after battering the Philippines over the weekend.
Nida has generated winds up to 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph) as it moves northwest toward Hong Kong, where the Hong Kong Observatory said it is expected to skirt within 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) of the territory Tuesday morning.
“When it finally makes it there, it will slow down and weaken,” CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar said, adding that there will still be an impact despite the loss of strength.
The Hong Kong government warns Nida will bring squalls, heavy rains, rough seas and potential flooding of low-lying areas as it approaches.
It said temporary shelters have been established for people in need, while schools in flood-prone areas have contingency plans in place. Kindergartens and special needs classes have been closed.
Nida is expected to arrive during high tide, increasing the threat of flooding, the Hong Kong Observatory said.
Trains canceled in Guangzhou
In the nearby southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, more than 600 high-speed trains have been canceled due to the approaching storm, state-run Xinhua news reported.
Services may resume Tuesday night if the situation improves, the report said.
The China Meteorological Administration has issued a typhoon red alert — the highest level of warning — over the approaching typhoon, its first such alert of the year.
People in affected areas have been instructed to stock up on daily necessities to last one to three days, the China National Commission for Disaster Reduction said, according to Xinhua.
Flights affected
More than 180 flights scheduled to depart or arrive in Hong Kong between Monday and Tuesday have been canceled, according to Hong Kong International Airport’s website.
All Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair flights scheduled to go through Hong Kong between 10 p.m. local time Monday until 2 p.m. Tuesday will be suspended, the airlines said.
A spokesman for Hong Kong’s Airport Authority said the public should check its website and with airlines before departure for the latest flight information.
Philippines battered
Nida, also called Tropical Storm Carina, hit the Philippines on Saturday, pouring up to 11 inches of rain over the country’s northern parts.
Northern Luzon and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan were on alert for flash floods and landslides triggered by the rains, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
Government agencies were on standby to provide aid, CNN Philippines reported, with more than 31,000 family food packs prepared.