Typhoon Mangkhut leaves trail of destruction; at least 65 killed in Philippines

The death toll in Philippines rose to 65 as the typhoon triggered landslides in several areas. National police spokesman Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana told AFP that 43 other people are missing. At least 2 people were reported killed in China's Guangdong province after Typhoon Mangkhut entered the Chinese mainland.

Search and rescue missions were ongoing in Philippines, and a local mayor in Benguet, Victorio Palangdan, said he feared the number killed there could be more than 100.

In Hong Kong, schools remained closed along with the transportation system which was severely disrupted as roads were filled with felled trees, mud and debris. Hong Kong had raised threat level to No. 10 as strong winds uprooted trees and smashed through windows in several offices. Water levels surged 12 feet in some places.

Winds at 200 kph had lashed parts of Hong Kong which was considered the strongest to hit the region this year.

As the typhoon made its way into China, state broadcaster CCTV showed footage of high waves destroying windows as they crashed into a hotel restaurant in Shenzhen. More than 2.45 million people have been relocated and over 48,000 fishing boats called back to port in the province. Work at more than 29,000 construction sites has been suspended.

Shenzhen airport has been shut with several flights cancelled. Waves as high as 24 feet were sighted in the Taiwan Strait, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Mangkhut will continue on its northwesterly track, bringing heavy rain and winds to the autonomous region of Guangxi early on Monday, the weather department said.

It is expected to weaken into a tropical depression when it reaches southwestern Yunnan province the early hours of Tuesday, weather forecasters have said.