VEECUBED community: 25 dead as typhoon hits China, flight chaos in HK

A woman stands at the counter of a Hong Kong bakery which has tape on its windows to protect them from strong winds, on September 23, 2013. Typhoon Usagi killed at least 25 people after crashing ashore.

(photo): Graphic showing the path of Typhoon Usagi, which left at least 20 people dead

Typhoon Usagi killed at least 25 people after crashing ashore in southern China, throwing the region's transport systems into chaos and leaving tens of thousands of airline passengers stranded in Hong Kong.

Schools and businesses were shut as activity in the normally teeming financial hub slowed to a crawl after Usagi punched a long swathe of Chinese coast with torrential rain and winds of up to 165 kilometres (103 miles) per hour during the night.

The deaths were reported by Chinese state media after Usagi -- which meteorologists say was the world's most powerful storm this year -- made landfall in Guangdong province northeast of Hong Kong on Sunday evening, prompting the highest level of alert from the National Meteorological Center.

The reports by Xinhua news agency and CCTV did not say how the 25 people were killed but said all the deaths were in Guangdong after the typhoon brought down trees and damaged roads.