A car drives past broken tree branches in Hong Kong as Tropical Storm Tapah swept through the city early Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. AP Photo
Tropical Storm Tapah slammed into southern China Monday, forcing schools to close, flights to be cancelled, and tens of thousands to evacuate as strong winds and heavy rain swept the region.
Mass evacuations across Guangdong
Authorities in Guangdong province, near Hong Kong, ordered widespread safety measures ahead of the storm. Train and ferry services were halted, tourist areas shut down, and about 60,000 residents were evacuated by Sunday afternoon. State broadcaster CCTV confirmed Tapah made landfall near Taishan city at 8:50 a.m., with winds reaching 30 metres per second.
Hong Kong braces for impact
Hong Kong’s weather observatory raised its No. 8 storm signal Sunday night, warning residents of dangerous conditions. Winds at the storm’s centre were recorded at about 110 km/h Monday morning. Before the warning was lifted in the afternoon, nearly 100 flights were cancelled. Passengers slept on chairs inside the airport as they waited for updates.
An HK Express flight arriving from Beijing slid off the runway and into the grass. Smoke was briefly spotted from the plane’s landing gear, but no injuries occurred. Police said they are still investigating whether weather conditions played a role.
Injuries and damage reported
The storm injured at least 12 people in Hong Kong, who were taken to hospitals for treatment. Authorities also received more than 160 reports of fallen trees and three cases of flooding. Hundreds of people moved into temporary shelters as a precaution, while local courts suspended hearings.
In nearby Macao, flooding affected several low-lying streets, though damage appeared limited.
Storm moves inland
After hitting Guangdong, Tapah weakened slightly and moved northwest toward Wuzhou city in Guangxi, according to CCTV. Meteorologists warned residents to remain alert for further rain and flooding as the storm travels inland.
The storm’s path caused widespread disruption, but early evacuations and closures helped reduce potential casualties. Officials across southern China continue to monitor conditions as recovery efforts begin.
