The Hong Kong Observatory on Sunday afternoon lowered the typhoon signal to the Gale or Storm Signal, No 8 as Typhoon Wipha gradually moved away from Hong Kong.

The HKO said that it will consider downgrading the typhoon warning further to the Strong Wind Signal, No 3 between 7 pm and 9 pm Sunday as local winds weaken.

“Wipha is departing from Hong Kong gradually, and local winds are also weakening progressively, but gale to storm force southeasterly winds are still affecting parts of the territory occasionally,” the HKO said. 

ALSO READ: Wipha lashes Hong Kong

The HKO had raised the Hurricane Signal, No 10 at 7:20 am as Typhoon Wipha skirted around 50 kilometers south of the city. Wipha is the strongest storm to hit Hong Kong in two years, with average wind speeds exceeding 118 kilometers per hour. The last time the No. 10 signal was raised was in 2023 when Super Typhoon Saola struck. 

The observatory said Wipha's intense rainbands were still bringing heavy squally showers to Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon and urged the public to stay away from the shoreline and avoid water sports. Hong Kong’s subway operator, Mass Transit Railway, gradually resumed its services but its bus service remained suspended.

Macao also raised the No 10 typhoon warning signal at 12:30 pm and later lowered it to T8 at 5 pm.  

As of 4 pm, the Hospital Authority said 16 males and 10 females had sought medical treatment during the typhoon, while 253 people sought refuge at 34 temporary shelters opened across the Hong Kong. There were 471 reports of fallen trees. 

A social media footage captured the moment bamboo scaffolding on a high-rise building in North Point, Hong Kong Island, collapsed after being buffeted by gale-force winds, damaging several cars on the street. 

Hundreds of passengers were also stranded at Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station, with all high-speed rail services cancelled before 3 pm on Sunday, as well as some after 3 pm.

Among them are four members of the Li family, including two children, who had arrived in Hong Kong on Friday and were due to depart for Shenzhen at 4 pm.

Li told China Daily they had to wait on the concourse in case train services resumed on schedule. They had decided to go ahead with the visit despite the approaching typhoon as they were unable to cancel their hotel bookings.

The Yue family is in the same boat, having arrived in the SAR on Friday and due to leave at 3 pm, but their departure has been delayed to 4 pm. Yue said the concourse was too crowded, with insufficient room for them to rest. And food supplies were hard to come by. 

Almost all cross-boundary bus services in Hong Kong were suspended. Shenzhen Bay ceased customs services until further notice.

At 1 pm, Wipha was centered about 70 kilometers southwest of the observatory and was forecast to move west at about 22 kilometers per hour across the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary, towards the coast of western Guangdong.

READ MORE: Severe tropical storm Wipha blows away from Philippines

The Airport Authority Hong Kong estimated that about 400 flights will resume this afternoon, involving about 80,000 passengers, with flights expected to take off gradually at about 1 or 2 pm. Around 500 flights were cancelled earlier.

The AAHK deployed an extra 1,000 staff to maintain operations after the No 8 storm or gale signal went up at 20 minutes past midnight. Water, blankets and food were distributed to stranded passengers. The airport authorities advised passengers to contact their airlines before leaving for the airport and allow enough time to make arrangements.

ALSO READ: Flood warning as Hong Kong braces for storm Wipha

The Education Bureau suspended all day and night school classes on Sunday, including those in secondary, primary and special schools, kindergartens, and kindergarten-cum-child care centers.

Due to the storm surge, water levels rose to about three meters above chart datum at Tai Po Kau on Sunday morning, and there may be flooding in low-lying coastal areas.

Oliver Hu, 25, braved the typhoon by commuting from To Kwa Wan in Kowloon to Aberdeen in Hong Kong Island’s Southern District to work. The usual 40-minute journey took him almost two hours due to the suspension of public transportation services.

Hu said he was almost blown away by the strong winds, adding he could not see anyone on the streets on his way to his office.

A 33-year-old internet user who works in the catering sector told China Daily he was on his way to Lok Fu, Kowloon, for work after leaving his home in Shek Kip Mei in the morning.

As he approached the subway station, his employer informed him he did not have to show up for work, which is rare for the catering business that would normally continue operating during typhoons, even if the No 8 signal is up, and employees are usually required to report for duty.