The storm formed from an area of disturbed weather off the northeastern Philippines, then gained strength as it produced torrential rainfall and flash flooding over Luzon Island.

The floodwaters were responsible for all five fatalities in the Philippines, with waist-deep water submerging parts of metropolitan Manila and four provinces, the country’s National Disaster Coordinating Council said.

Schools and businesses were closed as life in the region came to a near standstill.

Among those killed by the storm was a 13-year-old boy who drowned in a swollen river in Caloocan, north of Manila, and a 32-year-old man who was electrocuted in northern Ilocos province.

Outer bands of Molave later produced high winds in southern Taiwan that injured three people.

The storm briefly attained category 1 hurricane force just before making landfall near Hong Kong. High winds knocked down numerous trees and forced the closure of the Disney theme park for one day.

Tropical Storm Molave Track

Satellite Loop Data: CIMSS