Aftermath of Super Typhoon Ragasa

The Fullerton Hotel at Ocean Park was pummelled by waves

Super Typhoon Ragasa has come and gone from Hong Kong after over 10 hours and for the most part the city was relatively unscathed. Friends reported the incessant howling of the wind made it difficult to sleep at night, and they resorted to watching the Hong Kong Observatory updates of the massive storm's path.

The observatory has now lowered the signal to No. 8 though the Amber rainstorm warning is still in place. In some places it's hardly raining, but hey, that's what the weather forecasters are saying.

Waterfront restaurants like these were damaged

According to the Hong Kong government, there were 62 reports of injuries (37 men, 25 female), 816 people are sheltering in 50 temporary shelters, there are 437 reports of fallen trees, so far one report of a landslide, and 15 reports of flooding.

So far it seems the Fullerton Hotel at Ocean Park got a massive walloping from Ragasa. The waves pushed their waves into the entrance, breaking the glass doors and flowing into the foyer, sweeping one man off his feet in the process. "Get out!" can be heard in the video, though the clip changes to people sweeping water out.

There's also security footage of a waterfront restaurant in Tseung Kwan O where waves also pounded into the shop and practically destroyed the whole dining area; one can probably assume the kitchen is a disaster zone as well. There are comments suggesting people patronise the restaurant once it reopens... but can it after it was literally turned upside down?

Storm Danas in Hong Kong

Heavy rainfall in Mui Wo, Lantau

A friend in Hong Kong told me about the "crazy thunder and lightning" where she was in Mui Wo, on Lantau Island, and the incessant rain has resulted in the authorities announcing there would be no day school tomorrow, Friday.

That's a first -- usually local officials don't decide until the morning of, leaving parents bleary-eyed watching the storm updates until late at night in a bid to anticipate if there's school the next day or not.

Storm Danas is moving across Guangdong, causing heavy rains and thunderstorms. This morning there was an amber rainstorm warning posted at 8.35am, which turned red, then back to amber at 10.40am, then back to red again two hours later.

"The active southwest monsoon to its south will generally affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta [on Thursday and Friday]. There will be torrential rain and squally thunderstorms over the area," The Observatory said.

It warned residents outside to seek safe shelter as soon as possible.

Hopefully there won't be too much flooding or severe damage in the next 24 hours, but it does sound like rain coming down in Biblical proportions...

It's Raining Puppies in HK

Typhoon Koinu arriving in HK as imagined by @surrealhk

The Hong Kong Observatory has raised the T1 signal as the city braces for Typhoon Koinu to arrive on Thursday, and already the memes have been raining dogs, dogs, and more dogs.

That's because koinu in Japanese means "puppy". 

As a result, creative designers have taken to photoshopping the cutest puppies in the eye of the storm.

Unfortunately the impending typhoon has led to a severe disruption in the outdoor night bazaars that have been held in several districts.

Entrepreneurs trying to make a quick buck will have to suspend their businesses until the typhoon (and rain) go away.

However, some are questioning the effectiveness of these night bazaars.

"The success of the night bazaars should not be measured solely by economic factors, but by social ones, as they managed to get more visitors to the waterfront," said Ivan Wong Wang-tai, chairman of the Wan Chai District Council.

"But how much money can a night market earn? We should focus on how to fundamentally improve our economy, through hi-tech manufacturing and finance for example, instead of relying on this."

Agreed. Night markets are the only things the government can think of to stimulate the economy?

Nevertheless, here's hoping Typhoon Koinu isn't as destructive as Typhoon Haikui!