By Kelly Ho and Tom Grundy
Hong Kong saw serious flooding, fallen trees, and blown out solar panels as Super Typhoon Saola battered the city on Friday night.
The Observatory issued its highest storm signal – Hurricane Signal No. 10 – at 8.15 pm on Friday, the first time since 2018.
The signal was lowered to the No. 8 storm signal at around 3.41 am on Saturday, as Saola moved away from the city.
As of noon on Saturday, the government received more than 234 reports of fallen trees, one landslide, and 18 confirmed cases of flooding. 551 people sought refuge at government shelters.
The Hospital Authority said that – as of 11.40 am on Saturday – a total of 75 people, 41 men and 34 women, sought medical treatment at public hospitals during the typhoon period.
A total of 40 government temporary shelters were opened across the city as at 9 am on Saturday, with 505 people having sought refuge at the shelter so far.
The Observatory says the storm will continue to move across coastal waters of southern China: “It will be windy with frequent heavy squally showers and storm surge over the region. Seas will be high with swells.”
“Saola will depart and weaken gradually thereafter, but under the influence of a broad trough of low pressure, there will still be showers over the coast of southern China early next week,” it added.
Some flights are resuming though most public transport remains suspended or limited. Schools and court hearings are cancelled for Saturday.
The MTR Corporation said it “deployed maintenance personnel early this morning to inspect the tracks, clear fallen trees and debris on trackside to ensure safe train operations.”
High-speed rail services will remain suspended on Saturday.
Assessing damage
Several solar panels fell from the rooftop of Nan Fung Sun Chuen in Quarry Bay on Friday night with broken pieces scattered on the ground near Greig Crescent, local media reported.
Meanwhile, a widely-circulated video showed a woman losing balance and being flung across a a road amid strong winds and heavy rain.
According to local media reports, a private car parked on Chung On Street in Tsuen Wan was hit by a fallen zinc awning. The structure smashed the glass windows and panels of the car, as well as made a dent at the car front.
And fencing at the West Kowloon police headquarters was damaged, according to Ming Pao.
On Lamma Island, workers were out early with chainsaws to open up village pathways.
Some had become inaccessible overnight due to fallen trees.
For those in the city, some Hongkongers felt their buildings sway in the wind.
The Observatory said the No.8 storm signal would remain hoisted before 4 pm, as gale force winds continued to affect various districts in Hong Kong.
“Precautions should not yet be relaxed,” the Observatory warned.
Typhoon Signal 8
When the No. 8 signal is issued, gale or storm force winds are affecting, or expected to affect, Hong Kong.
- The Hong Kong Observatory will make a special announcement within two hours before the signal is hoisted. Most offices and businesses will then close and people without special reasons for staying out are expected to go home.
- All school classes and most government services will halt.
- Ferry services will give notice as to when they will stop running, while most bus routes will halt within two hours after the signal is issued.
- MTR trains will run normally unless weather conditions worsen.
- Citizens should return home or stay in a safe place, and avoid low-lying areas likely to be flooded.
- Temporary shelters will be opened in government buildings for people with no safe refuge.
Observatory signals currently in force
- Yellow Fire Danger Warning was issued at 06:00 HKT (4 Jan 2026)
Climate crisis
Tropical cyclones – which get their energy from warm ocean water – are strengthening and become ever more destructive because of warming seas. Over 90 per cent of excess heat in the atmosphere is ending up in oceans, according to NASA, as rising greenhouse gases prevent it from escaping to space.
