China prepared for the arrival of Super Typhoon Ragasa on Tuesday, the most powerful tropical storm of the year, with schools and businesses closing and most passenger flights expected to be suspended until early Thursday.
Ragasa, with winds reaching up to 220km/h (137 mph), was approaching the southern Guangdong province in China, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
Authorities in Hong Kong were set to raise the typhoon signal to 8, the third-highest level, by 2:20pm (GMT +8), prompting a halt in most business operations and public transportation services. Around 700 flights were expected to be affected.
The observatory stated it would monitor the situation to determine whether a higher-level warning would be necessary later in the day or on Wednesday morning.
The northern region of Philippines experienced the super typhoon on Monday, leading the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to put the country’s disaster response agency on full alert and mobilise government resources.
The Hong Kong Observatory predicted that strong winds from the typhoon would affect offshore areas and elevated regions in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall was expected to cause significant storms and a possible sea surge, similar to the destructive effects seen during Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, both of which caused widespread damage costing billions of dollars.
Authorities warned that water levels in coastal areas could rise by about two metres (six feet), with certain locations potentially seeing water levels of up to 4 to 5 metres (12-15 feet). Residents were urged to take necessary precautions.
On Monday, local authorities distributed sandbags to help fortify homes in low-lying areas, and many people rushed to stock up on essentials. Supermarkets saw long lines, and essential items like milk and meat quickly sold out, with vegetable prices tripling at fresh produce markets, reports news agencies.
Hong Kong’s Stock Exchange will remain open, having altered its policy late last year to continue trading regardless of weather conditions. Meanwhile, flood control measures were activated in southern China as local authorities warned of heavy rain beginning on Tuesday night.
Macau is also preparing for the storm, with schools closed and evacuation plans in motion.
In Shenzhen, China’s technology hub, over 800 emergency shelters were readied.
In Taiwan, authorities evacuated more than 7,600 residents from mountainous areas in the southern and eastern parts of the island, while transport disruptions continued on Tuesday, with 273 flight cancellations and some rail services suspended.
