HONG KONG — Scaffolding on a high rise building gave way and crashed onto a neighbouring structure today as Typhoon Noul approached Hong Kong and triggered widespread flight cancellations.

The storm strengthened as it moved toward the city and was expected to pass within 100km tomorrow morning, according to the South China Morning Post.

The Hong Kong Observatory said strong winds and outer rainbands had already reached coastal districts and warned that conditions would deteriorate as Noul advanced.

Police said they received several emergency calls at around 4.11pm reporting that scaffolding along Cheung Sha Wan Road had collapsed.

A Threads user posting under the name fish_.csy, who shared a video of the collapse, said the structure “shook for a moment before it really came down,” adding that “the whole thing took less than 30 seconds.”

The eyewitness said police sirens sounded almost immediately and later observed disaster response personnel arriving in Lai Chi Kok.

Footage circulating online shows multiple levels of scaffolding falling from the high rise and striking the building below, and authorities said they had no immediate information on injuries.

The Observatory recorded wind gusts reaching 110 kilometres per hour in some areas shortly before 4.45pm.

Officials issued the No 3 typhoon signal at 1.20pm and said they would consider raising it between 9pm and midnight.