appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

SCMP

This article was first published on August 4, 2006.
Observatory lashed over typhoon signal
by Agnes Lam, Clifford Lo and Martin Wong
The Observatory was under fire yesterday (August 3, 2006) for not hoisting a storm warning above the No 3 as Typhoon Prapiroon lashed some parts of the city with winds of up to 200km/h.
Unions said workers had been put in danger as they had gone to work as required because a No 8 signal had not been hoisted, while the swirling winds toppled cargo, blew down trees, caused traffic and flight chaos and stranded thousands of people at the airport.
Some people even suffered bee stings, as hives were knocked from the branches of trees and the occupants took out their fury on bystanders.

Meteorologist Clarence Fong Chi-kong, the host of website Weather Underground, called on the Observatory to update its storm classification system, which focuses mainly on wind speeds in the urban area.
He said it was outdated since the population had sprawled into the New Territories and outlying islands.
But the Observatory defended the system, saying it considered average wind speeds, not gusts. “The wind speed in Victoria Harbour only met the standard for issuing a No 3 signal,” a spokesman said.
Speaking to RTHK, Mr Fong said the Observatory had put the public at risk, with the lower signal lulling them into a sense of false security. “Very high wind speeds were recorded in some parts of the city. We really wonder why the observatory still did not issue the No 8 signal,” he said.
The Observatory said the strongest wind was at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, reaching 209 km/h at 4pm. High winds were also recorded in populated areas such as Tsing Yi with a speed of up to 108 km/h, and 98 km/h at Peng Chau.
Under the present system, the No 8 signal will be issued when gale or storm force winds are expected or blowing in “Victoria Harbour” with a sustained wind speed of 63-117 km/h.

Construction Industry Employees’ General Union chairman Choi Chun-wah said workers’ lives were in danger if their employers insisted that they should work.
“I think the No 8 signal should have been issued in the morning, as the conditions were very bad. Employers might still think it is still appropriate for workers to work, as the Observatory only hoisted the No 3 signal.”
Hundreds of passengers were trapped at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal and China Ferry Terminal, as ferry services to Macau and mainland cities was suspended.
More than 90 seamen on two mainland barges were rescued by government helicopters as they battled raging waves.
Across the city, 531 trees were uprooted, two of them disrupting East Rail services for 20 minutes and an hour at 6am and 9.30am. Eleven people were injured.

Two policemen who went to help some of the injured at Lok Ma Chau about 12.30pm had to be taken to North District Hospital after being attacked by bees from a hive that had fallen from a tree.
In a similar incident, a Citybus driver and three pedestrians were stung after a tree with a hive collapsed on to Mount Davies Road, Western. They were treated at Queen Mary Hospital.
More than 10 shipping containers were toppled at the river trade terminal in Tuen Mun but no injuries were reported.



Hong Kong must prepare for the impact of heat-related work stoppages

Hong Kong open to classifying heatstroke as an occupational disease: labour chief

How to take care of your dog during Hong Kong’s summer heat and thunderstorms

In an era of extreme summers, it’s time to look beyond air conditioning

Hong Kong weather

Public anger in Hong Kong over low signal during 2006 Typhoon Prapiroon – SCMP archive

Big Wave Bay, near Shek O, lives up to its name as Typhoon Prapiroon approaches Hong Kong on August 3, 2006. Photo: SCMP

Some of SCMP’s Typhoon Prapiroon coverage from the August 4, 2006 issue. Photo: SCMP

Pedestrians brave the wind at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront as Typhoon Prapiroon approaches the city on August 2, 2006. Photo: SCMP

A fallen tree covers a car in Ma Shan village, Sai Kung, as Typhoon Prapiroon lashes through Hong Kong on August 3, 2006. Photo: SCMP

Over 10 containers were blown down by strong gusts of wind brought by Typhoon Prapiroon at Container Terminal 4 in Kwai Chung on August 3, 2006. Photo: SCMP

People seek shelter near the Star Ferry Pier as the T3 signal is hoisted under Typhoon Prapiroon on August 3, 2006. Photo: SCMP

Scaffolders’ sheeting is ripped from a government building under construction in North Point, as T3 is hoisted under Typhoon Prapiroon on August 3, 2006. Photo: SCMP 

Over 600 flights are cancelled as Typhoon Prapiroon approaches the city, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at Chek Lap Kok Airport on August 3, 2006. Photo: SCMP

In 1976, earthquake in China’s Tangshan kills over 240,000 people – SCMP archive

Survivors search for their loved ones and belongings on July 30, 1976 among the ruins in Tangshan City after an earthquake struck the city in the early morning of July 28, 1976. Photo: AFP

An aerial view of Tangshan City after an earthquake killed more than 240,000 residents and damaged nearly all the buildings in the city. Photo: AFP

The front page of SCMP’s July 29, 1976 issue. Photo: SCMP

Rescuers try to find survivors in the debris in Tangshan after one of China’s biggest earthquakes in history destroyed the city on July 28, 1996. Photo: China Foto Press

1966 Hong Kong rainstorm leaves 64 dead in one of city’s worst floods ever – SCMP archive

Cars tumbled down steep streets in North Point afterJune 1966’s heavy rainstorms. Photo: SCMP

A woman falls into the floodwaters at the junction of Third and Centre Street in Sai Ying Pun under heavy rainstorms spread across Hong Kong in June 1966. Photo: Chan Kiu

SCMP’s June 13, 1966 frontpage. Photo: SCMP

The garden of the City Hall is normally surrounded by two troughs of blue water but the storm caused muddy flood waters to fill up the lower lying areas of the garden. Photo: SCMP

At Ming Yuen Street West, North Point, heavy rains caused torrents of water to rush down the street from the hillside. Photo: SCMP

Children and adults queue for rice at the North Point transit camp, where 1,353 homeless flood victims stayed in cramped conditions without electricity. Photo: SCMP

In 1961, Typhoon Alice claims 4 lives in Hong Kong – SCMP archive

The paper edition of SCMP on May 21, 1961, two days after Typhoon Alice hit Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP

An SCMP picture from the May 21, 1961 paper edition showing a 7,000-ton Indonesian freighter being refloated with the helps of tugs at Taikoo Dockyard. Photo: SCMP

An SCMP picture from the May 20, 1961 paper edition shows a sign in Central that was partially damaged during the typhoon. Photo: SCMP

An SCMP picture from the May 20, 1961 paper edition shows roofs of buildings in Ho Man Tin that were ripped off during the storm. Photo: SCMP

An SCMP picture from the May 20, 1961 paper edition shows people queuing up outside the Star Ferry Pier. Photo: SCMP

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Society

20 years ago, Typhoon Prapiroon sparked outrage when the Hong Kong Observatory did not raise the No 8 signal despite risk, chaos


20 years ago, Typhoon Prapiroon sparked outrage when the Hong Kong Observatory did not raise the No 8 signal despite risk, chaos.


From our archives

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}20 years ago, Typhoon Prapiroon sparked outrage when the Hong Kong Observatory did not raise the No 8 signal despite risk, chaos

Observatory lashed over typhoon signal

20 years ago, Typhoon Prapiroon sparked outrage when the Hong Kong Observatory did not raise the No 8 signal despite risk, chaos