MANILA -- (3RD UPDATE) Filipinos in Hong Kong hunkered down with the rest of the island on Sunday as Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) neared, after leaving a trail of destruction in the Philippines.

Streets were empty, establishments were shut and flight were cancelled in anticipation of Mangkhut's landfall. The third second highest alert was in effect, said Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, a household worker in Hong Kong.

"Lahat po talaga nasa bahay lang," Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, a domestic worker in Hong Kong, told radio DZMM. Naririnig po namin yung pagaspas ng hangin, malakas talaga."

(Everyone is just staying at home... We can hear the gusting of the wind, it's really strong.)

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But a Filipino domestic worker was given her day-off on Sunday, instead of the usual Saturday, and was asked to leave her employer's home, said Eman Villanueva, secretary general of United Filipinos in Hong Kong.

She feared that she would have nowhere to go as Hong Kong officials raised warning signal 10 over the island, but Villanueva said he instructed the OFW to temporarily seek shelter at the nearest typhoon center.

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Mangkhut, locally known as Ompong, approached Hong Kong early Sunday morning after leaving a trail of destruction in northern Luzon.

• IN PHOTOS: Ompong's trail of destruction

• LOOK: Devastation at Ompong's 'ground zero'

Ompong lashed Luzon on Saturday, triggering floods and landslide. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines so far this year, peaking at maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 330 kph.

Locals were stocking up on groceries as early as Saturday, Balladares-Pelaez said.

The Philippine consulate general on Saturday instructed over 227,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong to stay indoors and defer any travel or outdoor activities as the Chinese territory braces for Mangkhut.

Filipinos in Hong Kong can call 999 or the Consulate Hotline at +852.9155.4023 in the event of an emergency.

• Filipinos in Hong Kong urged to prepare in advance of Mangkhut

"We are constantly monitoring the situation and we are also in touch with local authorities if there’s a need to extend assistance to Filipinos who are affected," Philippine Consul General to Hong Kong Antonio Morales told ANC.

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Mangkhut, the Thai name for the mangosteen fruit of southeast Asia, was expected to skirt around 100 kilometres south of Hong Kong and veer westwards towards the Chinese coastline of Guangdong province, as well as the gambling hub of Macau straddling the Pearl River Delta.

"According to the present forecast track, Mangkhut will be closest to the Pearl River Delta around noontime (0200 GMT)," the Hong Kong Observatory said.

The third highest No. 8 typhoon signal has already been raised in Hong Kong, with a higher signal expected within hours as fierce waves pounded low-lying areas and strong winds rattled windows in many of the city's towering skyscrapers.

Some residents have been evacuated from low-lying areas with storm surges of up to 3.5 meters expected.

Tens of thousands of passengers were stranded in the city's international airport on Sunday, the airport authority said, with airlines including the city's flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, having already cancelled many flights.

Last year, the region was pummelled by one of the strongest storms in recent years, Typhoon Hato. In Macau, Hato left 9 people dead and caused extensive damage, spurring criticism that authorities were not well prepared and underestimated the storm's force.

Macau has been extra cautious this time around. Gambling operations at its casinos were shut down late on Saturday, authorities said, while China's People's Liberation Army was on standby to provide disaster relief assistance if need be.

"The suspension of gaming operations is for the safety of casino employees, visitors to the city, and residents," the Macau government said in a statement.