Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the rest of China are bracing for the coming of the so-called Super Typhoon Mangkhut which is described by weather authorities as one of the strongest storms to take form this year.
Typhoon Mangkhut, as classified by the Hong Kong Observatory, is a category 5 super typhoon which now carries on its wake the maximum gust of wind of 250 kilometers per hour, a report from the Straits Times said.
On Tuesday, Mangkhut registers a relatively slower speed reading of around 230 kilometers per hour, but it is expected to weaken as it makes its way to the mainland.
According to the news outlet, the typhoon is predicted to hit parts of south China over the weekend. It will bring loads of heavy rain as well as storm surges which pose the great danger on settlements located along coastal areas of the country.
Citing the report from the United Nations' Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System, Typhoon Mangkhut may threaten the lives of as many as 43 million people, particularly in the South East Asian region.
Onslaught in Hong Kong
According to the South China Morning Post, the storm is considered as one of the strongest to ever head over the city.
Citing Hong Kong Observatory chief science officer, Queenie Lam Ching-chi, Mangkhut is predicted to make its trail within 100 km of the city on Sunday. Despite its considerable distance from the center of the metro, it could still bring serious impact.
Even more so, the observatory forecasts that there's a fat chance for the typhoon to change its course over the next few days and could instead trudge right in the heart of Hong Kong.
Taiwan
The island's government, meanwhile, has recently issued emergency plans in preparation for Mangkhut, a separate SCMP report said. As stated by the outlet, the typhoon was already spotted around 2,000 kilometers east-southeast of Elunabi, the southernmost part of Taiwan.
According to the local weather bureau forecaster, Cheng Chuan-fang, authorities will be issuing sea warnings by Friday afternoon if Mangkhut continues to tread along its predicted path.
Taiwan's Premier William Lai Ching-te reportedly convened with officials from the weather bureau on Sunday to take a grip on the situation of the island.
Cabinet spokesperson Kolas Yotaka told the media outlet that the premier has already instructed the Water Conservation Bureau to coordinate with various local jurisdictions to set up their own respective crisis management systems in preparation for the possible impact of the typhoon.
One of Lai's priorities is to evacuate those people living within the range of the storm's trail to ensure their safety.
