Typhoon Usagi hits southern China with rain, fierce winds
A surfer jumps from his surfboard while catching an unusually large wave at Big Wave Bay on September 22, 2013 in Hong Kong. Typhoon Usagi missed the island on Sunday but caused heavy winds and rains.
The super typhoon Usagi hit southern China on Sunday, just missing the island of Hong Kong.
The heavy rains and strong winds caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights in nearby countries and put a nuclear power plant on alert.
Typhoon Usagi – the Japanese name for rabbit – has been called "severe," with winds up to 132 miles per hour.
More from GlobalPost: Hong Kong hunkers down for powerful typhoon Usagi
It was downgraded from a "super" typhoon on Saturday after winds dropped below 150 miles per hour.
Two people were killed in the Philippines while nine were injured in Taiwan.
The storm is moving northwest from the southern Pacific into mainland China through Guangdong province.
More from GlobalPost: Super Typhoon Usagi barrels toward Taiwan, Philippines
Ferry boats were halted and fishing boats came back to port in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong as the typhoon approached.
Shipping vessels were also stopped. Taiwan saw over 3,000 people living in flood-prone areas evacuated.
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