Typhoon Ragasa, after tearing through the northern Philippines, is now bearing down on southern China. On Tuesday, its approach triggered hundreds of flight cancellations, widespread evacuations, and even forced the temporary closure of iconic attractions like Hong Kong’s Disneyland and Macau’s bustling casinos.
Forecasters from China’s National Meteorological Center predict a second landfall on Wednesday, likely near Shenzhen, a major tech hub adjacent to Hong Kong. In response, Shenzhen authorities are preparing to evacuate 400,000 residents and will shut down the city’s airport by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Ragasa, which briefly intensified into the most powerful storm globally this year with sustained winds of 165 miles per hour on Monday, has since been reclassified as a still-dangerous Category 4 typhoon.
Climate experts note a rising trend in regional typhoons, prompting officials to brace for Ragasa potentially becoming one of the most destructive storms in years. Hong Kong Observatory’s forecasters have drawn comparisons to Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, which caused extensive damage, including hundreds of shattered windows in the city’s skyscrapers. Hong Kong’s second-highest official, Eric Chan, has explicitly called Ragasa a ‘serious threat’ to the metropolis.
A video captures Hong Kong residents bracing for Typhoon Ragasa, the year’s most potent storm, which led to mass evacuations and numerous flight cancellations across the region.
Life in Hong Kong ground to a halt as Disneyland closed its gates, horse races were called off, schools dismissed students, and office workers headed home early. Meanwhile, residents rushed to supermarkets, leaving shelves bare in preparation for the storm.
Over 600 flights across major airlines, including Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines, were canceled at Hong Kong International Airport. Despite cancellations, airport runways are expected to remain operational, with some facilities staying open 24 hours for affected travelers. Neighboring Taiwan also saw 270 flights grounded.
The renowned gambling hub of Macau also took precautions, announcing the temporary closure of its casinos starting Tuesday evening.
Following its impact on China, the typhoon is projected to continue its westward trajectory, potentially affecting Vietnam and Laos later in the week. Meanwhile, the Philippine state weather bureau reported heavy rains and landslides across northern regions on Monday, exacerbating existing flooding issues from recent storms.