Typhoon Usagi killed at least 25 people after coming ashore in southern China, throwing the region's transport systems into chaos and leaving tens of thousands of airline passengers stranded in Hong Kong.
Schools and businesses were shut on Monday as activity in the financial hub slowed to a crawl after Usagi - the world's most powerful storm this year - battered a long swathe of coastline with torrential rain and winds of up to 165kmh during the night.
The deaths were reported by Chinese state media after Usagi made landfall near Shanwei city in Guangdong province northeast of Hong Kong on Sunday evening, prompting the highest-level alert from the National Meteorological Centre.
The reports by Xinhua news agency did not say how the 25 were killed but said all the deaths were in Guangdong after the typhoon brought down trees and damaged roads. Dozens more were injured in accidents, it added.
As the typhoon bore down on Hong Kong, operators shut down one of the world's busiest sea ports and nearly 450 flights were either cancelled or delayed on Sunday as Cathay Pacific and other airlines imposed preemptive suspensions, AFP reports.
Bullet trains from Guangzhou city to Beijing were suspended and Xinhua said winds were strong enough near Shanwei to blow cars off the road. More than 47,000 fishing boats were in harbour and schools were closed in 14 coastal cities.
China's civil affairs ministry said 226,000 people were relocated due to the storm and more than 7,100 houses collapsed or were badly damaged.
Usagi previously killed two people and left three missing in the Philippines and unleashed landslides and power outages across southern Taiwan at the weekend.
Monsoon rains worsened by Usagi brought flooding on Monday to the Philippine capital Manila and nearby provinces.
