Authorities issued a red alert in Hong Kong and southern China as strong winds and heavy rains from Typhoon Mangkhut ripped through dense coastal cities, blowing out windows and flooding hotel lobbies, after it left at least 30 dead in the northern Philippines. By 2 p.m., the typhoon, which was downgraded from a super typhoon to a severe typhoon, was centered about 62 miles south of Hong Kong and is expected to move westward toward mainland China. Flights were canceled at Hong Kong International Airport, a major transportation hub for the region. On Saturday morning, the typhoon ravaged through the northeastern Cagayan province in Luzon Island, Philippines’ largest and most populated. Cagayan is largely an agricultural province, and authorities fear extensive damage to crops grown there, including rice, corn and bananas.

Source: Washington Post September 16, 2018 00:51 UTC