China has begun evacuating hundreds of thousands of people and ordered at least 10 cities to close schools and some businesses as the strongest storm of the year approaches its southern coast.
Hong Kong has upgraded its typhoon warning to level eight—just two levels below the maximum—ahead of the arrival of Super Typhoon Ragasa.
The storm is expected to make landfall in China’s Guangdong province on Wednesday, where nearly 370,000 people have already been evacuated. Authorities have warned citizens of a “catastrophic situation.”
Assessing the dangers the storm may bring, China’s meteorological agency has named it the “King of Storms.” Ragasa is expected to move towards northern Vietnam in the coming days, potentially affecting millions.
Citizens in Distress
On Tuesday, supermarket shelves in Hong Kong were emptied as stores ran out of fresh bread, vegetables, meat, and instant noodles, with residents preparing to face the approaching storm. Additionally, more than 500 Cathay Pacific flights are expected to be canceled, while Hong Kong Airlines announced it will halt all departures from the city.
Residents have also begun storm-proofing their homes; some in China have taped windows in an effort to prevent damage to their homes and businesses.
It is not yet clear how much climate change has influenced Ragasa, but scientists from the United Nations warn that a warming world is expected to make tropical storms like typhoons and hurricanes more intense on average.
Close to six people were injured, and more than 100 international flights were cancelled as Super Typhoon Ragasa passed through overnight. Ragasa also devastated a remote island in the northern Philippines on Monday, resulting in the death of one person, while thousands of families were evacuated ahead of the storm’s landfall. Schools and government offices were shut down across large parts of the country, including in the capital, Manila.
Equivalent to a Category 5 Hurricane
Super Typhoon Ragasa is equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. As it approached land, wind speeds reached up to 285 km/h at their peak on Monday. Based on current data and weather trends, Ragasa is expected to pose a serious threat to Hong Kong.
Previously, Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 was the most intense typhoon to hit the city, injuring over 200 people, sinking ships, and damaging critical infrastructure. Before that, Typhoon Hato caused widespread destruction and injured more than 100 people in Hong Kong.
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