Special Reports: "Chanchu" approaches, over 180,000 people evacuated

    HONG KONG May 17 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Chanchu battered Hong Kong on Wednesday causing halt of air, sea and land traffic.

    The Hong Kong Airport Authority said that 52 incoming and outgoing flights have been canceled and eight were delayed so far due to the weather condition. Most of them were on routes of the Chinese Mainland cities.

    Collapsed scaffolds, trees and fallen objects found in various districts have led to disruption of road traffic. Some ferry services going to outlying islands and the Mainland were suspended.

    The strong wind signal, no. 3 is in force, according to the Hong Kong Observatory, which means that winds with mean speeds of 41 to 62 km per hour are expected.

    The center of the typhoon was estimated to be about 240 km East-southeast of Hong Kong and is forecast to move North-northeast at about 22 km per hour towards the coast of Southeastern China, the observatory said.

    Members of the public were asked to take precautions of the strong wind. Kindergartens and schools for the handicapped were ordered by the authorities to close on Wednesday.

    Typhoon Chanchu killed at least 32 people in the Philippines and leaving thousands homeless last weekend. Enditem