Typhoon heads for Hong Kong

A typhoon which has caused havoc in Taiwan is now heading towards Hong Kong and China.

Typhoon Dujuan has blacked out thousands of homes, uprooted trees and drenched Taiwan with rain.

Bringing winds of 96mph, the storm lashed southern Taiwan overnight, leaving a trail of fallen trees, broken glass, and twisted metal in the beach resort town of Kenting.

Local cable news station TVBS showed a helicopter rescuing a watermelon farmer from a raging river created by flash floods in mountainous Hualien County on the east coast.

Disaster officials said a swollen river also carried away a 23-year-old college student in the east coast county of Taitung as she worked on a wildlife research project.

Officials are now assessing the damage from Dujuan. On Taiwan's south-eastern coast, two unmanned ships were ripped loose from their moorings in Fukang harbour.

Weather experts say the typhoon's speed has decreased slightly, and it is now moving at 16.25 mph toward Hong Kong and mainland China's southern province of Guangdong.

Cathay Pacific Airways has announced it is suspending all inbound and outbound flights from 10am UK time because of the storm. The flights may remain suspended until late tomorrow morning, the airline said.

Hong Kong's Education Bureau has suspended classes at all schools.