Red alert issued in Guangzhou as streets flood during typhoon Haikui

The heavy rainfall accompanying typhoon Haikui has forced the suspension of classes and public transportation and closed off public spaces, as the extreme weather has caused floods, downed trees, and damaged cars in many parts of the Guangdong provincial capital on Friday.

The districts of Panyu, Nansha and Baiyun were hit hardest by the storms. Many local streets and roads have flooded, limiting the mobility of pedestrians.

A red alert, the highest level of the four-tier warning system, was issued in the three districts on Friday, causing classes at all primary and secondary schools, plus kindergartens, to be suspended.

A resident surnamed Zhang said she had to wade across the street to purchase some daily necessities at a shopping mall across from her home.

"The metro station has temporarily been closed due to the heavy flood outside and many convenience stores near my home were forced by the downpour to shut down," said Zhang who lives near Shiqiao metro station in Panyu district.

"People can swim in the severely flooded road and street sections," she added.

A senior resident surnamed Li said he had to use a wooden stick to help him wade across a flooded road to avoid falling.

"Many cars were found stranded in the flood water," said Li who lives in Kangle road in Panyu district, adding that the ground floor of his housing estate became flooded after the river overflowed on Friday morning.