Truemors
Update 3 0200z 22nd August 08: Typhoon Nuri has weakened into a severe tropical storm but is still due to make a direct hit on Hong Kong this afternoon and into the evening bringing high winds and torrential rains to the territory. The Hong Kong Observatory has raised typhoon signal 8, effectively shutting down the city with schools and businesses closing for the day.
HONG KONG, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's stock, derivatives, forex and debt markets will remain closed for Friday morning after the city raised a severe tropical storm warning. [ID:nHKG321309].
Stock markets will open in the afternoon if the city withdraws that alert at or before noon, according to standard procedure. If the warning remains in effect after noon or 0400 GMT, trading will resume on Monday.
Typhoon Nuri, that killed four people in the northern Philippines, will come close to Hong Kong this afternoon and tonight, with a chance of a direct hit to the city, the Hong Kong Observatory said.
According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA - the official typhoon forecaster in the region) it has sustained winds of 63mph with gusts to 92mph.
Winds across Hong Kong will steadily increase throughout the day as will the threat of torrential rain and downpours.
There are reports that 5 people were killed in the Philippines when typhoon Nuri swept across the far northern coast of Luzon.
Five people including a 72-year-old woman and three children were killed when landslides crushed their houses in the northern regions while a farmer was missing after being washed away by an overflowing river in Ilocos province, the civil defence office reported.
Large parts of Luzon island were drenched by heavy rain, including Manila and nearby suburbs, and schools called off classes in some affected provinces, disaster relief officials said.
"We are prepared. We are not just looking at rain and strong winds, we are also looking at storm surges and strong waves in coastal areas," said Anthony Golez, deputy administrator of the National Disaster Coordinating Council.
For more information please visit the following websites:
www.typhoonfury.com - My website providing information on current and previous high impact typhoons in Asia.
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/0812c.html - JMA official warning page
http://www.hko.gov.hk/informtc/informtc.htm - Hong Kong Observatory typhoon warning page
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