Tropical storm Pakhar has brought strong winds and heavy rain to Hong Kong and Macau just four days after one of the strongest typhoons on record, Hato, killed at least nine people in the region.
Both cities issued their third-highest weather warnings early as winds intensified and heavy rain lashed down, churning up rough seas and prompting alerts of flooding in low-lying areas.
No serious damage has been observed in Hong Kong so far. The government said it has received three reports of flooding and 85 reports of fallen trees.
Hong Kong's weather observatory said winds reached storm force in the south and hurricane force on high ground on Lantau Island to the west, where the airport is situated.
Pakhar's arrival comes as the cities are still reeling from Hato.
While Hong Kong escaped major damage, Hato devastated Macau killing at least nine people, injuring 244 and exposing critical infrastructure flaws after it left the city without water and power for days.
In Macau, the storm will pose a major setback to clean-up efforts that saw Chinese troops deployed to help remove mountains of stinking debris strewn across some heavily flooded districts battered by Hato.
The Macau Government Information Bureau said power has been restored in the territory but some areas still lack a water supply.
The government said the city still faced a severe challenge in removing huge piles of waste from the streets, with 2,600 tonnes of debris collected on Saturday alone.
China's Meteorological Administration maintained its yellow typhoon warning, the third-highest of four levels, and said torrential rains are expected in several southern provinces through to Monday.
Hong Kong's flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, said the storm would cause delays and cancellations to flights arriving and departing today and tomorrow.
Airport Authority Hong Kong reported that a total of 140 flights have been cancelled as of this morning.
Other transport services including ferries to Macau and outlying islands in Hong Kong were suspended.
