Hong Kong prepares for hurricane-strength winds from Super Typhoon Ragasa as southern China faces the threat of severe flooding.
Super Typhoon Ragasa, which recently prompted mass evacuations in northern Philippine communities, is now advancing toward Hong Kong, southern mainland China, and Taiwan, where residents are gearing up for intense weather conditions.
Authorities in Hong Kong have issued warnings about the “grave danger” posed by Super Typhoon Ragasa, likening its potential impact to some of the most devastating storms the city has endured in recent years.
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“Ragasa threatens to be as severe as Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018,” stated Eric Chan, Hong Kong’s second-highest government official, on Monday, referencing two super typhoons that inflicted widespread destruction.
According to Hong Kong’s meteorological department, Ragasa was producing sustained winds reaching 220 kilometers per hour (137 mph) as it moved across the South China Sea early Tuesday.
While Hong Kong International Airport will remain operational, the airport authority warned of “major disruptions to flight schedules” starting from 6 p.m. (10:00 GMT) Tuesday through the following day.
Over 500 Cathay Pacific flights are anticipated to be canceled due to the storm.
In Taiwan, the national weather bureau forecasted “extremely heavy rainfall” particularly affecting the eastern regions.
“The typhoon’s influence extends over a broad area, with a storm radius of approximately 320 kilometers (199 miles). Even though the eye is still distant, its expansive and powerful wind field is already impacting parts of Taiwan,” the bureau explained.
In Shenzhen, a major technology hub in southern China, officials have arranged for the evacuation of roughly 400,000 residents, focusing on those living in flood-prone and low-lying zones. Shenzhen’s airport announced it would suspend flights starting Tuesday night.
China’s National Meteorological Center predicts Ragasa will make landfall along the Guangdong coast, between Shenzhen and Xuwen county, on Wednesday.
Philippines Faces Protests Amid Flood Control Scandal
Known locally as Nando, Ragasa compelled evacuations in several northern Philippine villages on Monday, following widespread protests the previous day over alleged corruption tied to flood control projects that were never completed.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered a halt to government operations and suspended classes in Manila and 29 provinces across northern Luzon on Monday as a precaution.
Power outages were reported on Calayan Island and throughout Apayao province, located in the northern mountains, as the typhoon unleashed wind gusts up to 295 kph (183 mph) in some locations, according to disaster management officials.
There have been no immediate reports of fatalities or extensive damage, the Associated Press reported.
In Cagayan province, including Calayan Island, over 8,200 individuals were relocated to safer areas, while 1,220 sought refuge in emergency shelters in Apayao, a region vulnerable to flash floods and landslides.
Domestic flights in the northern provinces affected by the typhoon were suspended, and maritime authorities prohibited fishing vessels and inter-island ferries from departing due to turbulent seas.
On Calayan Island, situated near the storm’s core, information officer Herbert Singun told AFP that parts of a school roof were torn off and landed about 30 meters (98 feet) away on an evacuation center, causing a minor injury.
“Look at those coconut trees swaying over there,” he said during a video call. “There were eight before, now only four remain standing. That illustrates the typhoon’s strength.”
Experts have highlighted that climate change is intensifying tropical cyclones, leading to stronger winds and increased flooding risks.
Ragasa marks the 14th significant weather event to impact the Philippines this year, coinciding with ongoing investigations by government bodies into a corruption scandal involving alleged kickbacks that resulted in either subpar or nonexistent flood control infrastructure.
Despite the approaching typhoon, thousands marched on Sunday to denounce the scandal, which involves an estimated 118.5 billion pesos (approximately $2 billion) in flood control projects, sparking public outrage in one of the world’s most typhoon-vulnerable countries.
