Rains from Typhoon Wipha pounded Hong Kong on Sunday as the storm skirted southwards before making landfall on the coast of China’s Guangdong province, leaving fallen trees and scaffolding and sending over 200 people to seek refuge at temporary shelters.

GUANGZHOU -- As the impact of Typhoon Wipha, the sixth typhoon of the year, on South China's Guangdong province gradually weakened, the provincial headquarters for flood, drought and wind control announced the adjustment of its emergency response to wind control from Level II to Level IV at 11:00 am Monday.

The tropical cyclone made landfall in mainland China late Sunday afternoon with winds near to those of a Category 1 Atlantic hurricane.