Hong Kong shut down ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa on Tuesday, with authorities urging people to stay at home and hundreds of flights cancelled.
People piled into supermarkets, leaving little on the shelves, as panic buying set in and residents stocked up on necessities for fear that shops could be closed for two days.
Windows in homes and businesses across the city were taped up, with residents hoping it could help reduce the impact of any shattered glass.
Ragasa, packing hurricane-force winds of up to 137 mph, is posing a “severe threat to the coast of Guangdong”, the Hong Kong Observatory said, referring to the Chinese province that neighbours the financial hub.
It will maintain super typhoon intensity as it edges closer to the coast of Guangdong, and as it impacts Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan, after sweeping through the northern Philippines on Monday. It is expected to make landfall along Guangdong's coast from midday to late Wednesday.
Guangdong authorities evacuated more than 370,000 people, the official Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday.
Hong Kong issued the typhoon signal 8, its third highest at 2.20pm local time (7.20am), which urges most businesses and transport services to shut down. More than 700 flights have been disrupted, including in the neighbouring gambling hub of Macau and in Taiwan. Flights due to leave Heathrow for Hong Kong on Tuesday have been cancelled.
The weather is expected to deteriorate rapidly later on Tuesday and the observatory said it will assess whether to issue a higher warning late on Tuesday or early Wednesday. Hurricane-force winds offshore and on high ground were likely in Hong Kong on Wednesday, with heavy rain expected to lead to a significant storm and sea surge in the densely packed city.
It warned of rising sea levels, which it said would be similar to those seen during Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, both of which caused billions of dollars in damage.
Water levels will rise about two metres (six feet) along Hong Kong's coastal areas and maximum water levels could reach four to five metres (12-15 feet) in some areas, the observatory said, urging residents to take appropriate precautions.
Local authorities handed out sandbags for residents to bolster their homes in low-lying areas, while many people stockpiled daily necessities.
Ragasa swept through the northern Philippines on Monday, prompting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to order the country's disaster response agency to go on full alert and mobilise all government agencies.
Hong Kong's Stock Exchange will remain open. It changed its policy late last year to continue trading whatever the weather.
Chinese authorities have activated flood control measures in several southern provinces, warning of heavy rain from late on Tuesday.
Residents in the world's largest gambling hub of Macau are also bracing for significant impact, with school closures and evacuation plans under way.
In China's technology hub Shenzhen, authorities said they have prepared more than 800 emergency shelters.
Taiwan's government has evacuated more than 7,600 people from mountainous southern and eastern areas, while transport disruption continued for a second day on Tuesday with 273 flights cancelled and some rail services suspended
