Hong Kong, September 23 (AP) — Southern cities in China are adjusting daily routines as they brace for Super Typhoon Ragasa, one of the most formidable storms in recent years, following its devastating impact in the Philippines. The typhoon has already resulted in three fatalities and the displacement of thousands.
Hong Kong's observatory reported Ragasa is unleashing maximum sustained winds near its center at approximately 230 kph and is projected to travel west-northwest at around 22 kph. Its path will take it across the northern part of the South China Sea toward Guangdong province, known as an economic hub in southern China.
China's National Meteorological Centre anticipates the typhoon will make landfall between Shenzhen city and Xuwen county in Guangdong province on Wednesday.
Hong Kong has already issued a strong wind signal, with plans to escalate this to storm warning signal No. 8, the third-highest in its alert hierarchy, on Tuesday afternoon. Officials will reevaluate the need for a higher alert level on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
In Hong Kong, storms with maximum sustained winds exceeding 185 kph are classified as super typhoons to alert residents to their heightened severity.
The forecast suggests water levels could climb approximately 2 meters in coastal zones of the city by Wednesday morning, with certain areas potentially witnessing water levels 4 to 5 meters above the usual minimum sea level.
Authorities warned that water levels might mirror those observed during previous typhoons Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018, which resulted in economic damages valued at over 1 billion Hong Kong dollars (USD 154 million) and 4.6 billion Hong Kong dollars (about USD 590 million), respectively.
Residents in flood-prone regions are reinforcing their properties with sandbags and barriers. Additionally, window and glass door protections are being strengthened with tape, and many locals have been stocking up on essential supplies as vendors report dwindling inventory.
Educational institutions in Hong Kong and nearby Macao have been shuttered. In Guangdong's tech hub of Shenzhen, Foshan, and Hainan's Haikou, classes have been suspended, along with gradual business and transit suspensions.
Numerous flights have been canceled in Hong Kong, with all flights at Shenzhen airport ceasing from Tuesday night. Macao initiated its emergency response mechanism in anticipation of Ragasa passing within 100 kilometers of its location on Wednesday morning.
In Taiwan, at least six individuals were injured, and over 7,000 people were evacuated after the typhoon brushed the island's south, affecting over 8,000 households with power outages, as reported by the Central News Agency.
Ragasa's rampage through the Philippines resulted in at least three fatalities, five missing individuals, and the displacement of over 17,500 people due to flooding and landslides — the most severe storm the nation has faced this year, according to the country's disaster-response agency.
Among the deceased is a 74-year-old man who succumbed on his way to the hospital after being trapped in one of four vehicles engulfed by a mudslide in Tuba, Benguet province. Two additional residents perished, including one from Calayan town, in Cagayan province where the typhoon made landfall, though details remain sparse.
As a precaution, the Philippine government shut down schools and government offices in Metro Manila and 29 northern provinces on Monday. Moreover, fishing operations were halted, and ferry services were suspended in perilous seas, with numerous flights canceled as part of the response. (AP)
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