Flights cancelled, businesses shut in Hong Kong, Guangdong as Typhoon Saola nears

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The Asian financial hub of Hong Kong and China's neighbouring southern province of Guangdong cancelled hundreds of flights on Friday as fears of powerful Typhoon Saola forced some mainland cities to shut businesses, schools and financial markets.

Packing winds of more than 200 kph (125 mph), the typhoon could make landfall late on Friday or early on Saturday in Guangdong, and rate among the five strongest to hit the populous province since 1949, Chinese authorities have warned.

All flights with Hong Kong between 2 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Friday and 10 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Saturday have been cancelled, said Cathay Pacific, the city's flagship carrier. More than 300 people were stranded at the airport by the cancellation of about 460 flights, the Airport Authority said.

"It's very sad for me because I am not able to attend my daughter's oath-taking," said a tearful Ledenila Barizo, 54, who had been due to fly to the Philippines, as she paced in front of the airline desk.

The weather will deteriorate rapidly as the typhoon makes landfall, Hong Kong weather officials said, with chances of storm surges of about 3 metres (10 feet) higher than the normal tide. The maximum water levels could reach a record, they added, with a chance the city could raise its hurricane signal to the highest level from the second highest, which is now in effect.

Weather authorities in China have said Saola could make landfall along the coast between the cities of Huidong and Taishan. Hong Kong and Macau lie in the centre of that stretch.

"We can see that the eye of the typhoon will pass very close to Hong Kong," office worker Wai Yi said as she and her husband strolled by the sea in an eastern part of Hong Kong, which shut all schools, though Friday was the first day of term for many. "I'm a bit concerned and hope it won't cause too many casualties."