Mon, August 25, 2008
Typhoon Nuri has lost much of its punch - it's been downgraded to a tropical storm now, tracking north and east over the Chinese mainland.
But it caused three deaths in the southern city of Guangzhou - a car carrying the victims was hit by a falling billboard.
In Shenzen, tens of thousands were evacuated from coastal areas and fishing boats called back to port.
Nuri brought Hong Kong to a virtual standstill on Friday - making a rare, direct hit when it was still a typhoon.
Winds of up to 110kph toppled trees and scaffolding, forced the shutdown of the territory's financial hub and disrupted hundreds of flights.
The airport is full of stranded passengers.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TIAN SUN, STRANDED PASSENGER, SAYING:
"They told me that the earliest flight is in three days but (those) flights are already full. You know, our school will start in two days in the United States. I don't know what to do now."
Hong Kong's major carriers Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air say they're restoring service as quickly as they can.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ALGERNON YAU, GENERAL MANAGER, CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS HONG KONG AIRPORT, SAYING:
"This morning, we are trying to mount 15 extra flights for the affected passengers together with our normal scheduled operation today."
There are few reports of serious casualties from Nuri, though a man who went swimming was swept away by heavy swells.
As it moves across mainland China, the storm is bringing strong winds and torrential rain to western Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta.
