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Story highlights
- Typhoon Haima passes across Hong Kong
- T8 storm signal issued, as storm heads north into China
Authorities issued a T8 tropical cyclone warning signal early morning local time, meaning most businesses and schools were closed. Bus, ferry and train services were also affected.
As of 2 p.m. local time (2 a.m. ET), 742 passenger flights had been canceled, according to Hong Kong Airport.
More than 150 trees were knocked by storm winds of up to 117 kph (73 mph). Officials said 12 people, aged between 22 and 94, sought medical treatment during the typhoon.
Storm heads to China
Haima has now moved north into China's Guangdong province, making landfall around midday local time.
Nine cities have issued the highest red typhoon alert, according to Guandong province's meteorological center.
In Shenzhen, all schools, offices and businesses were closed Friday as the city's office of Disaster Prevention urged people to remain indoors.
It is the 22nd typhoon to hit China so far this year.
Philippines recovering
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated as the country was hit by its second major typhoon in under a week.
Winds of 220 kilometers per hour (137 mph) prior to arrival put it on par with a Category 4 hurricane, Philippines authorities said.
As many as 2.7 million people in seven provinces were affected by the storm before it carried on north towards China.