Super Typhoon Ragasa nears Hong Kong as region braces for impact

Super Typhoon Ragasa is bearing down on Hong Kong, prompting the city to shut schools and suspend some business activity as authorities warn of a potential catastrophe. The Hong Kong International Airport said it expects significant disruption to flight operations from 6 p.m. local time Tuesday through Wednesday, with more than 500 Cathay Pacific flights anticipated to be canceled and Hong Kong Airlines pausing all departures. The storm, the strongest of the year so far, is forecast to move west-northwest toward Guangdong province and northern Vietnam, potentially affecting millions as officials prepare for a wide impact.

Across southern China, life has begun to pause under the threat. Guangdong’s major cities have started closing schools and restricting transportation as Ragasa closes in. Shenzhen, a neighboring economic hub, reported evacuations totaling about 400,000 residents, while Macao activated its emergency response mechanism in anticipation of the storm’s near pass to the south. Forecasters warned that coastal water levels could rise about 2 meters over coastal areas on Wednesday, with maximum levels in some locations reaching 4 to 5 meters above typical low-tide levels.

![Typhoon Ragasa approaches Hong Kong]https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/7c9db41c-4435-4c16-93ec-32528a7509eb/wirestory_b7882be652ce520a0f28cff5fb946e5b_16x9.jpg?w=1600 ""

In the Philippines, Ragasa—referred to locally as Nando—slammed portions of Luzon, killing at least one person and displacing thousands as it moved across the archipelago. More than 10,000 people were evacuated before landfall on Monday afternoon, with schools and government offices closed in Manila and surrounding regions. Fishing boats and ferries were prohibited from venturing into very rough seas as authorities prepared for further tropical storm effects over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Hong Kong’s observatory said Ragasa would bring maximum sustained winds near the storm’s center of about 230 kph (143 mph), with the potential for dangerous gusts and storm-surge conditions. The government warned residents to brace for coastal flooding and high winds, and the city’s weather alert system could be upgraded to higher signals depending on the storm’s track and intensity. The water-rise forecast and wind threats come after years in which Hong Kong has faced severe damage from prior typhoons, underscoring the need for preparedness in the densely populated Pearl River Delta.

China’s National Meteorological Center forecast Ragasa would make landfall in the coastal area between Shenzhen and Xuwen County in Guangdong on Wednesday. The Hong Kong Observatory expected to issue the No. 8 signal—the third-highest in the city’s system—this afternoon and would reassess whether to raise or lower alerts as conditions evolve. The government warned that the storm’s approach could disrupt ports, highways, and essential services, with the potential for widespread flooding and wind damage.

Across Guangdong and neighboring provinces, many cities canceled classes and suspended nonessential public transportation as authorities prepared for the storm’s impact. Shenzhen’s evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents highlighted the scale of preparations, while Haikou in Hainan and Foshan in Guangdong joined in class cancellations and a phased slowdown of commerce. Macao’s emergency response activation signaled a heightened state of readiness for what officials described as a near-storm event that could affect the casino hub on Wednesday morning.

Observers drew comparisons to past storms that have battered Hong Kong. Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 remains the city’s most intense landfall in recent memory, with the weather agency estimating economic losses of more than HK$4.6 billion. Typhoon Hato in 2017 brought severe flooding and injuries to hundreds, underscoring the vulnerabilities of the urban coastline to powerful typhoons. While Ragasa’s exact path is still evolving, officials stressed that the storm’s scale demands caution and thorough preparation across the region.

As Ragasa nears, officials urged residents to secure outdoor objects, stock up on supplies, and stay indoors during the storm’s rain bands and high winds. Travelers were advised to monitor updates from authorities, and airports, ports, and public transport agencies continued to issue alerts as the storm’s track became clearer. The coming hours will determine the level of disruption and the immediate risks to coastal communities across Hong Kong, Guangdong, and neighboring areas, as well as the resilience of regional infrastructure in the face of one of this year’s most powerful tropical systems.