Biggest Wave Ever Surfed

Hong Kong issued a number 8 typhoon warning, the third highest, early on Friday morning (October 21) with the approach of Typhoon Haima.

Hong Kong shut all but essential services and the government also advised people to stay inside and away from the sea.

However, this was the signal some surfers were dreaming of.

Dozens of thrill-seekers ran into the sea at Sheko beach to take advantage of unusually large waves.

“I think Hong Kong is very conservative so you get a warning like quite often. So it’s quite windy but it’s not as bad as they say it’s going to be. There’s not very often there’s surf in Hong Kong so take what you can get,” said project manager, Brendan Beni.

He said that he and his friends had hailed an Uber to get to Sheko as all taxis and buses weren’t running to the remote fishing village on the southern part of Hong Kong island.

Economist Simon Quail said waves in Bali and Taiwan are bigger even without a typhoon approaching, but admitted the conditions were not for beginners.

“Yeah I know, but if people who don’t know how to swim and stuff they will get into a lot of trouble, but if you’ve surfed in places with big waves, it’s not that bad,” he said.

The Home Affairs Department issues a statement saying 59 people had sought refuge at its various temporary shelters while there were reports of 23 fallen trees.

The Hong Kong Airport Authority said that a total of 689 passenger flights had been cancelled and delayed at 6:30 a.m. local time (2230 GMT on Thursday, October 20).