As Typhoon Wipha intensifies, Hong Kong's Observatory raised the Gale or Storm Signal No. 9, indicating severe weather conditions with the potential for further escalation to the Hurricane Signal No. 10. The region is likely to experience strong winds and heavy rain, leading residents to brace for the impending weather.
Anticipating the storm, a surge in consumer activity hit Hong Kong supermarkets, including chains like Wellcome and Aeon. Reports across social media displayed images and videos of near-empty shelves as residents secured essential supplies. A Facebook post went viral, noting that by 6 pm, bread shelves at an Aeon supermarket had been entirely cleared. Commenters observed, "Hongkongers are so strange, every time there's a storm, they rush to hoard supplies. But most restaurants are still open; there's no need to panic."
One item notably left on the shelves, however, was celery. A video shared on Threads depicted the vegetable section at a Wellcome supermarket, with only celery neatly packaged and left untouched. The uploader humorously stated, "Mum! I found vegetables!" and commented, "This storm shows how much Hongkongers dislike celery."
The video ignited online discussion, with criticisms directed towards celery due to its preparation challenges, with remarks calling it "a gift to the rubbish bin." In contrast, supporters highlighted its versatility in dishes such as borscht, stir-fried chicken, and fresh juice. A commenter humorously noted, "Talking about it makes me hungry."
Source: Dimsum Daily
