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As Hong Kong hunkers down for Super Typhoon Saola, the Post looks back at city’s most ferocious storms

  • Hong Kong has witnessed a series of ferocious and occasionally deadly storms since records began in 1946
  • The Post charts the passage of infamous typhoons such as Mangkhut, Vincente and record-holder Wanda

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Super Typhoon Wanda struck Hong Kong in 1962 and is considered one of the deadliest storms recorded in the city. Photo: SCMP
As Hongkongers hunker down and prepare for the prospect of a No 10 signal going up on Friday in response to the encroaching Super Typhoon Saola, the Post takes a look back at some of the ferocious storms that have battered the city.

Typhoon Mangkhut

The storm, which was named after the Thai word for mangosteen fruit, struck the city on September 16, 2018, and is considered one of the most powerful since records began in 1946.

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The Hong Kong Observatory issued a No 10 signal that remained in force for 10 hours, just one hour less than when Typhoon York hit in 1999.

The storm caused serious flooding in locations such as Heng Fa Chuen and Shek O in the eastern and southern quarters of Hong Kong Island. Authorities were also forced to evacuate residents from Lei Yue Mun in southeast Kowloon

During the day, a tide with a height of up to 3.88 metres (12.7 feet) was seen in Quarry Bay, only 3km from Heng Fa Chuen.

Typhoon Mangkhut caused serious flooding in Heng Fa Chuen when it struck in 2018. Photo: Winson Wong
Typhoon Mangkhut caused serious flooding in Heng Fa Chuen when it struck in 2018. Photo: Winson Wong
The passage of Mangkhut left at least 458 people injured and resulted in a record-breaking number of fallen trees at more than 60,000. Some major roads and public transport routes were heavily congested or suspended the following day due to clean-up efforts.
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