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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST
A man dodges tidal waves under the influence of Typhoon Usagi in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province

Usagi -- the most powerful tropical cyclone of 2013 -- swept past the Philippines and Taiwan over the weekend but saved the worst of its wrath for neighbouring Hong Kong and China.

Reports said dozens of people in China and Philippines had lost their lives due to flooding, airborne debris, and collapsed buildings.

Usagi -- Japanese for rabbit -- has been classified as a severe typhoon and had sustained winds of 175 kilometres per hour, with gusts of up to 213 kilometres an hour on Sunday evening.

Usagi has a massive diameter of 680 miles, with its outer rain bands extending across Luzon and all of Taiwan across to the Chinese coast.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

A boy holds on to the concrete bank as rough waves crash along the coast of Manila Bay brought by Super Typhoon Usagi in Navotas City, metro Manila.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

A man walks under fallen branches on a pavement at a residential district after Typhoon Usagi hit Hong Kong.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

Passengers whose flights are cancelled in anticipation of typhoon Usagi, rest at Hong Kong Airport.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

People watch waves hit the shores as Typhoon Usagi approaches in Shantou, Guangdong province.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

A child holds an inside-out umbrella broken due to strong winds before Typhoon Usagi made landfall in Hong Kong

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

Children swim in a flooded walkway as rough waves crash on concrete banks along the coast of Manila Bay brought by Super Typhoon Usagi in Navotas City, metro Manila.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

Visitors take pictures of tidal waves under the influence of Typhoon Usagi in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

A man pushes his bicycle against the wind as Typhoon Usagi approaches Shantou, Guangdong province.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

A man braves gusty winds outside a shopping mall at Tsim Sha Tsui shopping district during Typhoon Usagi in Hong Kong.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

A man tries to get back into his car as a wave surges past a barrier on the shore during Typhoon Usagi in Hong Kong

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

A man and a boy sit inside a makeshift raft as they paddle through rough waves brought by Super Typhoon Usagi along the coast of Manila Bay in Navotas City, metro Manila.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

A information board shows flights cancelled in anticipation of typhoon Usagi, at Hong Kong Airport.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

Passengers from South Korea (L), the Philippines (R) and Poland (4th R), whose flights to their home countries are cancelled in anticipation of typhoon Usagi, charge their tablet and smartphones at Hong Kong International Airport.

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Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone

September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

People react after being hit by a tidal wave under the influence of Typhoon Usagi in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

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September 25, 2013 08:32 IST

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