China's 'Tech City' Shutdown - Typhoon Threatens
Shenzhen, China's technology hub, has closed offices, business centers, and markets due to the threat of typhoons.
The city of Shenzhen is being phased out ahead of the typhoon. Across the mainland border in Hong Kong, the city's meteorological observatory warned that Saula could come within 100 kilometers south of the region, creating a storm surge around Victoria Harbour.
The Meteorological Department said that severe flooding may occur in the city.
On Friday, authorities issued instructions to close down the city ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Saul.
The city has a population of 1.77 million, and the emergency department has announced that there will be 'five barriers' due to the danger. There will be disruption in work and business in them from 4 pm.
According to the Emergency Response Department, transport will be suspended from 7 p.m.
Officials fear that the typhoon will lash the city with strong winds.
Millions of people were affected on Friday as the typhoon moved towards Hong Kong and the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. Hundreds of flights were canceled, businesses closed and schools closed.
With sustained winds of 210 km/h moving toward Hong Kong, Saula could be one of the strongest typhoons to hit Guangdong if it makes landfall in the province.
At 11 a.m. local time (3 p.m. UTC), it was 180 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong, where the stock market had suspended trading.
Authorities had already issued a severe typhoon warning for the storm, which Chinese state media said would make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening in "coastal areas stretching from Hulai to Hong Kong".
The department added that water levels in eastern coastal areas could reach the highs of 2018 when Typhoon Mangkhat hit Hong Kong and injured more than 300 people.