Typhoon Haima lashes China, destructive winds, flood risk

Friday, October 21, 2016, 12:45 PM - Typhoon Haima continues on its destructive path through Southeast Asia, colliding with the coast of China as a Category 1 early Friday.

Haima made landfall just 110 kilometres east of Hong Kong, soaking the territory with torrential rains and gusting winds of more than 117 km/h.

Flights were cancelled and more than 150 trees were torn down due to storm winds. The storm is now tracking north through China's Guangdong province, bringing the risk of flash flooding and landslides.

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"The rain bands of Haima are bringing squalls and heavy rain to the territory," the Hong Kong Observatory said in a statement. "Seas are rough and there are swells. Members of the public should stay on alert, stay away from the shoreline, and not engage in water sports."

This is the 22nd typhoon to hit China in 2016.

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The storm reached China just days after making landfall in the northern Philippines, severely damaging agricultural and infrastructural property.

Thousands were evacuated as the Philippines faced the second major typhoon in less than a week. Wind gusts reached 220 km/h before making landfall, leveling the storm with a Category 4 hurricane, Philippines officials said.

It had been a relatively calm typhoon season for the Philippines so far before things got stirred-up recently. This year, the only storm to cross this normally typhoon battered country had been Category 1 Naida back in August.

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However, the people of the Philippines were reminded that typhoon season is still underway, as Sarika (Karen) slammed into the east central coast of the island of Luzon with winds of approximately 180 km/h, heavy rain and very strong surf.

This potent storm  left a trail of destruction along several eastern provinces of Luzon, but specially in coastal areas of Aurora and Isabela. Thousands are still without electricity and more than 15,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, but fortunately, the death toll has been low considering the strength of the storm and the vulnerability of the area.

Watch below: Typhoon Sarika triggers flooding in the Philippines

With files from Mario Picazo.