Two typhoons and a tropical storm were swirling around the coasts of China and Japan Thursday with Hong Kong preparing to batten down for strong winds and rain. Severe Tropical Storm Linfa, packing maximum wind speeds of up to 110 kilometres (68 miles) per hour near its centre, was around 130 kilometres north-east of Hong Kong by late afternoon Thursday and was set to hit overnight.
The stronger Severe Typhoon Chan-hom, with maximum winds of 155 kilometres per hour, was hurtling towards the northern coast of Taiwan Thursday and was expected to make landfall in eastern China Saturday, near the coastal cities of Wenzhou and Taizhou. In a statement Thursday, the Taiwan Stock Exchange said the stock market would also be closed on Friday, alongside some government offices and schools. A third typhoon, Nangka, currently in the Pacific Ocean north of Guam, was heading towards the south-eastern coast of Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, but was not due to make landfall in the next five days.
The Hong Kong Observatory raised its "T8" storm signal - its third-highest - late Thursday afternoon with hundreds of office workers heading home to avoid the storm. The warning was later reduced to a "T3", with wind speeds of 41 to 62 kilometres per hour expected, according to the Observatory. Kindergartens were shut in the morning with container ports closed from the early afternoon. Authorities also closed off a popular seaside promenade overlooking the city's famous Victoria Harbour and skyline as tourists grappled with umbrellas in the wind. The Hong Kong Airport Authority said over 500 flights would be affected by the storm but that so far there have been no cancellations.
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