Hong Kong Typhoon Mangkhut: Daredevils risk their lives to take selfies in deadly storm

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Hatty Collier17 September 2018

Daredevils risked their lives to take selfies on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour front as Typhoon Mangkhut lashed southern China with ferocious winds and relentless downpours.

The Hong Kong Observatory had warned people to stay away from the Victoria Harbour landmark where storm surges were battering the water front.

But that did not stop thrill seekers from heading out in the storm and battling the strong winds and rain to take selfies.

One man was pictured capturing a selfie as a severe gust of wind blasted him in the face, while another casually held onto the railings as he smiled for the camera with his arm outstretched.

A man takes selfies on the Victoria Harbour waterfront during Typhoon Mangkhut in Hong Kong
EPA

Another man was photographed taking a video of himself being battered by downpours on an empty Nathan Road in Hong Kong.

Daredevil: a man takes pictures in Typhoon Mangkhut on the waterfront at Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong
AP

Officials had issued a red alert with residents warned to stay indoors to avoid flying debris as winds reached up to 110mph.

A British woman living in Hong Kong told the Standard her building was “literally swaying” and that she was “house bound with the windows taped up”.

A man plays a saxophone on the waterfront in heavy rains on Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong
REUTERS

She added that the storm was “pretty intense” and that “the cladding on our building has just been ripped straight off” and was “flying around.”

People with umbrellas walk against strong winds from Typhoon Mangkhut at Nanshan District in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province
AP

In the Philippines where Mangkhut first hit at least 64 people were killed by the storm, which is believed to be the strongest in the world for 2018.

A man takes photograph at the seafront on September 16, 2018 in Hong Kong
Getty Images

At least 40 people, mostly gold miners, were feared trapped in a landslide in the village of Itogon town in Benguet.

Nearly half a million people had been evacuated from seven cities in Guangdong province, China, and the gambling enclave of Macau closed down casinos for the first time.

Mangkhut made landfall in the city of Taishan in Guangdong province at 5pm local time, with wind speeds of 100 miles per hour. State television broadcaster CGTN reported that surging waves flooded a seaside hotel in the city of Shenzhen.

A giant wave strikes the coast during Typhoon Mangkhut, Hong Kong
REUTERS

The national meteorological centre said southern China "will face a severe test caused by wind and rain" and urged officials to prepare for possible disasters.

On Sunday morning, the typhoon featured sustained winds of 96 miles per hour and gusts of up to 118 mph.

A flooded road road in Hong Kong
Getty Images

The Hong Kong Observatory said although Mangkhut had weakened slightly, its extensive, intense rainbands were bringing heavy downfall and frequent squalls.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled. All high-speed and some normal rail services in Guangdong and Hainan provinces were also halted on Sunday, the China Railway Guangzhou Group Co said.

In Fujian province and elsewhere, tens of thousands of fishing boats returned to port and construction work came to a stop.

High waves hit the shore at Heng Fa Chuen, a residental district near the waterfront, as Typhoon Mangkhut slams into Hong Kong
REUTERS

Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde said that 20 people had died in the Cordillera mountain region, four in nearby Nueva Vizcaya province and another outside of the two regions.

Three more deaths have been reported in north-eastern Cagayan province, where the typhoon made landfall before dawn on Saturday.

A man and a girl walk against strong winds from Typhoon Mangkhut
AP

Among the fatalities were an infant and a two-year-old child who died with their parents after the couple refused to immediately evacuate from their high-risk community in a Nueva Vizcaya mountain town, said Francis Tolentino, an adviser to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

"They can't decide for themselves where to go," he said of the children, expressing frustration that the tragedy was not prevented.

Mr Tolentino, who was assigned by Mr Duterte to help coordinate disaster response, said at least two other people were missing.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said at least three people died and six others were missing in his mountain city of Baguio after strong winds and rain destroyed several houses and set off landslides, which also blocked roads to the popular holiday destination.

About 87,000 people had evacuated from high-risk areas of the Philippines. Mr Tolentino and other officials advised them not to return home until the lingering danger had passed.

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