Videos show destructive power of storm as winds of over 135 miles per hour lash port city and its neighbor to the north.
Early September brought two large natural disasters to Japan, with Typhoon Jebi slamming into the Osaka area on September 4 and an earthquake rattling Hokkaido just two days later. Since then, Mother Nature has given Japan a break, but things weren’t so peaceful elsewhere in Asia last weekend.
Typhoon Mangkhut, the strongest storm on record for 2018, reached Hong Kong on Sunday, after causing landslides and other damage in the Philippines resulting in over 60 deaths. When Mangkhut arrived at Hong Kong, its winds were blowing steady at roughly 170 kilometers (106 miles) per hour, and severe gusts were as strong as 223 kilometers (139 miles) per hour.
It can be hard to mentally grasp how fast those speeds are, given that they’re far beyond what most of us will ever experience behind the wheel of a car or other vehicle open to the outside air. Videos taken in the city during the storm, though, show just how terrifyingly powerful Mangkhut was.
#Mangkhut in HK looks surreal... pic.twitter.com/tRKpEHHZUh
— Saunic 🇭🇰 (@Saunic) September 16, 2018
It wasn’t just plant life that was blown about, either. Here we see two pedestrians in Shenzhen (Hong Kong’s neighbor to the north) trying to make their way through the rain, only to have their umbrellas turn into sails.
深センの友達から。こんな日に外に出たらダメ🙅♀️ pic.twitter.com/Y0SdRLZ0Vi
— 唐老鸭@上海迪士尼 (@donananaduck) September 16, 2018
▼ A father bravely comes to his son’s aid as they struggle to remain upright against the winds.
WATCH: Father and son getting swept by strong and powerful winds as Typhoon #Mangkhut batters Hong Kong on Sunday. | Video courtesy of Hong Kong News/ FB page pic.twitter.com/fX1ciSxCco
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) September 16, 2018
The local authorities designated Mangkhut as a class-T10 typhoon, the highest level by which it rates storms. In the last 60 years, only 15 typhoons have received such a classification.
▼ Mangkhut was no less intimidating when viewed from afar.
Just was sent this from friends in Hong Kong. Absolutely crazy stuff. #Mangkhut pic.twitter.com/vaOUb2tY6r
— Dave Stanley (@daveystan1) September 16, 2018
▼ The winds were so strong that here they can be seen causing an entire apartment high-rise to sway like a tree.
#Mangkhut building is literally moving !! #HongKong pic.twitter.com/5E03xJ5FFJ
— Jack Qu (@TweetJWQ) September 16, 2018
Construction crews in Hong Kong often erect scaffolding made out of bamboo while working on buildings. The multi-story frames are an iconic part of the city’s urban landscape, but here we see one ripped and away and falling towards the street 10 floors below.
Typhoon #Mangkhut: Bamboo scaffolding collapsing in #HongKong's Kowloon City https://t.co/vw3rCPfflY #TyphoonMangkhut 🎥: Shirlee pic.twitter.com/8AWZa68gQP
— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) September 16, 2018
Hong Kong's historic Duddell Street granite steps, which date back to 1875, half destroyed by a tree felled by #Mangkhut. Very unfortunate☹️ pic.twitter.com/RaqTMUSXkW
— Jon Gordon (@ItsJonGordon) September 17, 2018
▼ The storm uproots a tree and the surrounding sidewalk in Shenzhen.
いまの深圳の様子です (クラスのグループチャットで流れてきた) pic.twitter.com/DTsyJ3pEfU
— shao as a service (@shao1555) September 16, 2018
After passing through Hong Kong, the storm made its way north to the neighboring province of Guangdong, requiring over 2.4 million residents to evacuate. Incredibly, no deaths have been reported in Hong Kong, though more than 200 people sustained injuries requiring medical attention.
Mangkhut is now continuing to weaken as it moves further inland, with the Hong Kong Observatory reporting its sustained wind speeds have dropped to 75 kilometers per hour, and the organization expects it to further dissipate throughout today and tomorrow.
Sources: Jin, CNN, Hong Kong Observatory, Bloomberg

Hong Kong counter-protesters gather to sing Chinese national anthem on streets of Osaka, Japan
Hong Kong protesters apologizing for airport disruption strikes a chord with Japanese netizens
Incredible videos show seas of Hong Kong protestors parting to let ambulances through【Videos】
Think your rent is bad? Hong Kong “apartment” charges $250/month to sleep in bathroom shower
Police in Japan looking for who’s responsible for dumping 80 loaves of bread on side of road [Video]
Data suggests increased bear sightings have led to a decrease in mountain climbers across Japan
Nike x One Piece collection brings Devil Fruits to sneakers and streetwear in Japan
Nephew of Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki serves up Totoro Shaved Ice in Tokyo
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Pikachu and other Pokémon evolve into hydration types with Thermos drinkware collaboration [Pics]
Amid foreign sex tourist rise, Japanese government considering outlawing paying for prostitution
Winnie the Pooh cosplays as Yuzuru Hanyu for new plushie collaboration
We recommend not buying one pack of Japan’s new convenience store corn soup-flavor fried chicken
Nagoya’s famous Shinkansen platform noodle shop has other, better branches nearby
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new interactive stationery dioramas that bring anime movies to life on your desk
Studio Ghibli composer Jo Hisaishi just set three Guinness Records
Anime fans can now wear a Seiko watch inspired by Japan’s One Piece Shinkansen
7-Eleven Japan brings back best-selling flat croissant that became a hit on social media
Foreign hiker on Mt. Fuji loses consciousness and dies, becoming climbing season’s second fatality
Universal Studios Japan partners with manga horror master Junji Ito’s Tomie
Starbucks Japan releases two new seasonal drinks that blur the line between summer and autumn
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Hong Kong real estate developer builds new super micro condos smaller than a parking space
“Spies” from the police force confuse and anger Hong Kong protesters
Typhoon Jebi hits Japan, blows away cars, roofs, and building facades 【Pics & Videos】
Vandalism on rise at Japanese shrines as pro-Hong Kong protest prayer boards are defaced
Typhoon Trami batters Japan, hits close to Tokyo with fierce winds 【Photos & Videos】
Kentucky Fried Sukiyaki? Japanese-style hot pots now on the menu at KFC Hong Kong
420 million yen in cash-filled suitcases stolen on Tokyo streets, incidents at Haneda and Hong Kong follow
Domino’s Pizza delivery driver battles Typhoon Jebi in Japan, video goes viral 【Video】
Hong Kong man spoils “Avengers: Endgame” outside of theater, gets swiftly beaten up for it
Astronaut’s assessment of Super Typhoon Trami isn’t filling us with confidence