A New Zealander in Macau has described hunkering down during Typhoon Mangkhut, unsure of whether her windows - or building - would survive the wind.
The storm has now passed over the world's largest gambling hub and weakened after hitting yesterday.
It has left flood waters up to 2.5m high in its wake, as well as power outages and disrupted transport networks.
Eleanor Ryburn has lived in Macau for about a year and works at a casino there coordinating events.
Ms Ryburn told 1 NEWS she had seen a typhoon before - Typhoon Hato last year - but Mangkhut was much more prolonged.
"It just went on for so long yesterday - all throughout the day - that was probably the most uncertain thing," she said.
"You didn't know if it was going to get worse, or what the damage was when we came out this morning."
Ms Ryburn said she was in a fortunate part of the city but that others had not been so lucky.
Power was cut to about 20,000 homes during the storm, and casinos in the city were shut down for the first time since gambling licenses were granted in 2002.
The sound was the worst part, Ms Ryburn said.
"The sound of it happening ... you didn't know if your windows were going to break through," Ms Ryburn said.
"The only thing I can think of for Kiwis [to compare it to] is when we had the earthquake ... that rumble.
"Outside you hear the wind and the rain battering at the windows and the building, but you also hear the whistling, your windows vibrating ... you can hear the kind of impact of nature."
"Some people really got affected badly and some of us are really lucky ... you just have to go with it and see what happens.
"There are lots of Kiwis that have been trying to get through to New Zealand and let them know they are safe."
Supermarkets were emptied of stock, especially items like water, in the days before Mangkhut hit, she said.
Ms Ryburn said people have this morning been cleared to return to their workplaces if they are able.
SHARE ME