Thousands flee homes as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches Hong Kong

Flights have been cancelled, schools and businesses have closed, and thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes as one of the strongest typhoons of recent years approaches southern China and Hong Kong.

Super Typhoon Ragasa, with winds near its centre of around 137mph (220kmh), according to Hong Kong’s observatory, is travelling across the South China Sea towards Guangdong province, the southern Chinese economic powerhouse.

At least three people have died and more than 17,500 displaced by flooding and landslides in the Philippines because of the storm, categorised as a “super typhoon” by the observatory because it contains winds of more than 115mph (185kmh).

Ragasa is expected to make landfall in the coastal area between the cities of Zhuhai and Zhanjiang in Guangdong on Wednesday between midday and evening, local time, China’s National Meteorological Centre said.

Sandbags and barriers have been placed by doors to protect homes, and windows and glass doors have been taped ahead of expected high winds.

Many people stockpiled food and other supplies on Monday, and some market traders said their goods were selling out fast.

Hurricane-force winds were forecast across a wide area, the observatory said, confirming it will issue the third-highest storm warning signal in its weather alert system, on Tuesday afternoon.

Winds of 84mph (135kph) were recorded near the ground at a distance of about 75 miles (120km) from the typhoon’s centre, it said.

Water levels may go as high as four to five metres (13ft to 16ft) above the typical lowest sea level, while coastal areas could see rises of up to two metres (6.5ft).

Schools were closed in Hong Kong and the neighbouring city of Macao, while classes were cancelled in other cities, including the tech hub of Shenzhen.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled in Hong Kong. Shenzhen Airport will halt all flights from Tuesday night.

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The Macao government was evacuating residents and tourists and ordered bridges to close in the evening as it expected Ragasa would pass within 62 miles (100km) to the south of the casino hub on Wednesday morning.

At least six people were injured and over 7,000 people were evacuated in Taiwan when the typhoon swept south of the island, and over 8,000 households lost power, the Central News Agency reported.

As well as the three known to have died, five others are missing in the Philippines because of Ragasa, the most powerful storm to hit the Southeast Asian archipelago this year, the country’s disaster-response agency and provincial officials said.