<p> Typhoon Usagi, the strongest storm to hit the Western Pacific this year, hit Hong Kong and the southern Chinese coast late on Sunday, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands and crippling power lines with intense winds.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Reuters reports that China’s National Meteorological Center issued its highest alert, with more than 80,000 people moved to safety in Fujian province and authorities deploying at least 50,000 disaster-relief workers.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “It is the strongest typhoon I have ever encountered,” said Luo Hailing, a gas station attendant in Shanwei. “So terrible, lucky we made preparations.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Winds were recording at more than 180 km/hour (110 mph) in some parts of Southern China, leaving trees and cranes toppled and blowing cars off roads. Three major power lines in coastal Fujian were brought down, cutting off electricity supplies to about 170,000 households.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Although Hong Kong was in severe risk, the city suffered only minimal damage with no casualties. There will be no trading in the Hong Kong Exchange in the morning if the typhoon signal remains at 8 or higher at 9 AM Hong Kong time (0100 GMT), with trading suspended for the whole day if storm signal 8 is still up at noon.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Usagi also hit the east and south coasts of Taiwan on Sunday after slamming into the Philippines’ northernmost islands, where communication and power lines were cut and landslides were triggered.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we follow the devastating effects this storm will have in the Asia-Pacific region.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/22/us-asia-typhoon-idUSBRE98K02120130922" target="_new"> Reuters</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
