Tropical storm Nida heads to China after shutting down Hong Kong

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Hundreds of flights from Hong Kong have been affected

Hong Kong has come to a standstill as a powerful typhoon batters the territory, closing schools and businesses and shutting down transport.

Typhoon Nida is now moving to mainland China, with the city of Guangzhou province issuing its first-ever red storm alert, the highest-level warning.

People in Guangzhou province have been told to stockpile food and essentials.

Typhoon Nida, which passed over the Philippines, is set to be the strongest typhoon in the region since 1983.

Local official He Guoqing told state news agency Xinhua it could bring severe flooding.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Along with this bamboo scaffolding, local officials received reports that 114 trees had fallen over

Image copyright AFP

Image caption A Nasa satellite image showed Typhoon Nida approaching China on Monday

Hundreds of thousands of passengers have been affected as trains, ferries and planes were cancelled or delayed across the region.

Thousands of workers have been evacuated from an offshore oil platform and from a series of tunnels and bridges that are being built to link Hong Kong with two other cities.

Amid torrential rain and gusts of over 150kph (93mph) Hong Kong residents were advised to stay away from waterways in case of flooding.

With a "No 8" typhoon signal – the territory"s third-highest category – in effect, hundreds took refuge in dozens of government shelters.

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Tropical storm Nida heads to China after shutting down Hong Kong
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