Rains from Typhoon Wipha pounded Hong Kong on Sunday as the storm skirted southwards before making landfall on the coast of China’s Guangdong province, leaving fallen trees and scaffolding and sending over 200 people to seek refuge at temporary shelters.

The tropical cyclone made landfall in mainland China late Sunday afternoon with winds near to those of a Category 1 Atlantic hurricane.

Hong Kong raised its storm alert to the highest level as tropical cyclone Wipha moved closer, with Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. delaying and cancelling flights in and out of the city on Sunday (July 20).