The team at Seis News is thinking of all of our friends and associates in Houston and Hong Kong / Macau. We hope that they are safe and comfortable. The various views and media coverage available on line show the devastation that has been caused and it follows that the recover will take some time to effect.
We wish you well and look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Typhoon Hato
On Wednesday morning, the Hong Kong Observatory issued a typhoon warning signal number 10, the highest such level in Hong Kong’s warning system, for Typhoon Hato. A level 10 warning signal has only ever been issued 15 times in Hong Kong since 1946, with the last issuance coming in 2012.
Early Wednesday morning, Hato slammed into the autonomous region Macau, just south of Hong Kong, causing widespread flooding and damage in one of the most densely populated regions in the world. At least 16 deaths are blamed on the typhoon that local residents are describing as “the strongest and the scariest typhoon” the area has ever experienced. Powerful words for an area that averages five to six typhoons passing close by per year.
Tropical Storm Pakhar followed on just four days later.
Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey has slammed into Texas with initial winds of up to 130mph (215km/h) battering coastal areas.
The biggest storm to hit the US mainland in 13 years is moving slowly, with 16.43in (42cm) of rain reported in one area.
Catastrophic flooding is expected, though Harvey’s winds were downgraded from category four to category one.
Some residents are feared trapped in collapsed buildings and there have been widespread power cuts.
More than 200,000 customers are without electricity, utility companies say.
After freeing up federal aid for the worst-affected areas, President Donald Trump praised emergency services in a tweet, saying: “You are doing a great job – the world is watching! Be safe.”
Take care out there from all at Seis News