China and Hong Kong Brace for Super Typhoon Ragasa: Schools, Businesses Shut
BEIJING/HONG KONG: China has ordered the closure of schools and businesses in at least 10 cities as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches the country’s southern coast, affecting tens of millions of people and prompting factory shutdowns across the nation’s manufacturing hubs.
In Shenzhen, China’s tech hub, authorities have evacuated 400,000 residents, warning of “severe wind, rain, waves, and floods.” Citizens were advised to remain indoors except for emergency personnel and essential services, with work and market closures beginning Tuesday afternoon.
Other cities in Guangdong province implementing similar suspension measures include Chaozhou, Zhuhai, Dongguan, and Foshan. Foshan’s emergency headquarters described the situation as a “critical defence scenario” due to strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone this year, is generating maximum sustained winds of 230 km/h (140 mph) while moving across the South China Sea. The typhoon previously impacted parts of the Philippines.
Hong Kong and Macau Prepared
Hong Kong shut down on Tuesday as authorities urged residents to stay home. Most passenger flights were suspended until Thursday. Panic buying emptied supermarket shelves, and windows were taped up to reduce potential damage from shattered glass.
Guangdong authorities reported evacuating over 770,000 people, with more than one million residents expected to relocate across the province. Hong Kong issued a Typhoon Signal 8, its third-highest warning, leading to the shutdown of most businesses and transport services. Over 700 flights have already been disrupted, including in Macau and Taiwan, as conditions are expected to worsen rapidly.
Authorities continue to monitor the typhoon closely, urging citizens to follow safety instructions and remain indoors until the storm passes.
