The tropical storm Wipha threatens southern China after hitting Taiwan and the Philippines

A tropical storm that caused flight and ferry cancellations in Taiwan to reach the strength of the typhoon before reaching the southern coast of China on Sunday on Sunday is forecast.

The storm crossed the Philippines previously, where a parked truck was crushed by a billboard structure that was demolished by strong winds in the city of Quezon, north of Manila.

Wipha had maximum sustained winds of 101 kph (63 mph) and bursts of up to 126 kph (78 mph) when it passed south of Taiwan on Saturday, said the central news agency of the island.

More than 20 centimeters (8 inches) of rain were recorded in the counties of Hualien and Taitung on the east coast of Taiwan, said the news agency. Several national flights were canceled and the service on 14 ferry routes was suspended due to the agitated seas and strong winds.

On the other side of the Taiwan Strait, many Ferries suspended the service in the province of Fujian on the east coast of China.

It is forecast that the storm, the sixth of the season in the Western Pacific, will reach the strength of the typhoon before passing near Hong Kong during the night. It is expected to bring heavy rains along the southern coast of China and then weaken while heading west towards Vietnam and Laos.

In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific said that all flights that arrive or leave between 5 am and 6 pm, local time on Sunday, would be canceled or delayed. The airline renounces ticket change rates, he said.

The Hong Kong Observatory warned about the storm force or the upper winds and the possible floods in low coastal areas due to the dizzy storms. A 30 -kilometer (18 miles) bridge that crosses the water between Hong Kong and Macao will close during the night, reported Hong Kong Rthk station.

The authorities of the province of Hainan, a Chinese island that is a popular beach resort, said three ports would suspend operations from Saturday night in Haikou, the provincial capital.

In 2023, a typhoon brought strong sustained rains to southern China, which caused floods in Hong Kong and other areas. Deluges around the city of Maoming in the province of Guangdong caused a lake in a commercial crocodile farm to overflow with more than 70 animals that escaped, local media reported.

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