• Tropical cyclone Typhoon Wipha prompted Hong Kong's highest No. 10 storm warning on Sunday.
• Over 500 flights were cancelled, affecting around 100,000 passengers at Hong Kong International Airport.
• More than 700 reports of fallen trees emerged, with around 33 people requiring medical treatment.
• The typhoon resulted in estimated economic losses of up to HK$2 billion in a single day.
• Classes and public transport services were suspended as severe weather conditions prevailed.

Typhoon Wipha made landfall near Guangdong province after battering Hong Kong on Sunday, prompting the territory to issue its highest tropical storm warning, a No. 10 signal, which was in force for seven hours. The storm brought winds exceeding 140 kilometers per hour and caused extensive flight cancellations, disrupting air travel for nearly 100,000 passengers as authorities grounded hundreds of flights, including those from Cathay Pacific Airways, which cancelled all flights during the storm's peak, according to IndiaTimes and Reuters.

The typhoon resulted in more than 700 reports of fallen trees, significant infrastructural damage, and left many residents seeking refuge in temporary shelters across the city. Medical facilities treated 33 people for injuries associated with the storm, reflecting a lighter impact than past storms like Super Typhoon Saola, which resulted in 86 injuries in 2023, according to SCMP and Channel News Asia.

Economic analysts estimate that Hong Kong may incur losses of up to HK$2 billion ($255 million), primarily affecting the retail and catering sectors, as businesses closed in anticipation of dangerous conditions. Significant disruptions were noted especially on Sundays when the typhoon occurred during a typically slower day for the economy, as stated by Professor Terence Chong from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as reported by SCMP.

In addition, over 500 flights were cancelled, and many travellers faced backlogs at Hong Kong International Airport that included long waiting times and confusion as operations resumed on Monday morning. Airport authorities managed to clear a backlog of approximately 1,000 flights on the day after the typhoon, highlighting the effective coordination between airlines and airport services despite the challenges posed by the storm, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.