(Chinatopix Via AP) CHINA OUT

HONG KONG (AP) — The most powerful typhoon to hit the southern Chinese region in more than half a century left at least 16 dead as a sudden deluge swamped the gambling hub of Macau, submerging streets and stranding residents. Worst hit in the area is the former Portuguese territory of Macau where nine people were killed and rescuers still searching today through submerged cars for trapped people. Another 153 were injured amid extensive flooding, power outages, and the smashing of doors and windows by the high winds and driving rain. On Thursday evening, as residents of the former Portuguese colony queued for drinking water, Macau’s leader Fernando Chui and other government ministers bowed their heads for a minute’s silence and made a public apology. The water came so suddenly,” said Coutinho, who slammed the city government for having “reacted so slowly and so badly.”

Casinos downtown “were either closed or barely operating,” while some resorts in the newer Cotai district were in better shape but operating without air conditioning, Union Gaming Research analyst Grant Govertsen said in a report. AT LEAST eight people are said to have been killed and many missing after maximum category 10 storm Typhoon Hato smashed into the southeast Chinese territory of Macau. Winds as fast as 77 kilometers per hour (48 mph) with maximum gusts of 127 kilometers per hour (79 mph) were recorded on Lantau Island, where the Hong Kong International Airport is located.
At least 12 people die in the southern Chinese city of Macau as a result of flooding caused by Typhoon Hato. Four more people die in neighbouring Guangdong province.