Early Tuesday, as it crossed the South China Sea, Typhoon Ragasa produced maximum sustained winds of 220 kilometres per hour at its center. Hong Kong’s weather service reported that the storm had earlier battered parts of the Philippines, where it has already claimed three lives and displaced thousands, according to wdio.com.
According to enca.com, the Hong Kong Observatory announced it would raise its typhoon warning to T8, the city’s third-highest level, at 2:20pm on Tuesday. At that stage, businesses are required to close, and most public transport services are suspended as residents brace for the storm’s impact. Ahead of Ragasa’s imminent arrival, Hong Kong’s ferry operators have announced extensive early suspensions of their services.
The Airport Authority announced that Hong Kong Airport will remain open, but flight operations will face ‘significant’ disruptions from 6pm Tuesday through the following day, reported enca.com. Over 500 Cathay Pacific flights are expected to be canceled.
Emergency services are on high alert, and transport disruptions are expected. Officials continue to monitor the typhoon closely, warning the public to take safety measures seriously. Residents rushed to stock up ahead of Typhoon Ragasa, clearing supermarket shelves of fresh food, vegetables, and bread in anticipation of the storm.
ReutersHong Kong residents stock up on supplies at a supermarket to prepare for the approaching Typhoon Ragasa. (REUTERS/Tyrone Siu)
According to Chinese weather services, Ragasa, named after the Filipino word for ‘rapid motion’, is expected to pass closest to Hong Kong and the nearby casino hub of Macau on Wednesday morning.
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