Tropical Storm Prapiroon strengthened into a full-blown typhoon here on Thursday, as the weather station hoisted the number eight strong wind signal.

No injuries have so far been reported and some 158 accidents have been logged including collapses of trees, billboards and scaffolds, according to a press release issued by the Information Bureau.

Meanwhile, the government opened three shelter centers for the needed, said the release.

Many enterprises and government agencies suspended business and schools closed.

All ferry services between Macao and Hong Kong, and those between Macao and the Chek Lap Kok airport in Hong Kong have been suspended.

Prapiroon, named after the Thai rain god, came in the wake of last week's Typhoon Kaemi, which killed at least 35 people in China and left dozens missing in flooding and landslides.

Source: Xinhua