Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated across China, as the country braces for the strongest storm of the year.
Around 37,000 people have been evacuated from Guangdong province in Southern China and at least 10 cities have been ordered to shut schools, as authorities caution an imminent “catastrophic” situation. Businesses such as Hong Kong’s Disneyland and Macau’s casinos have also closed.
Super Typhoon Ragasa reached wind gusts of 285km/h (177mph) on Monday, and has sparked warnings of floods, storm surges and landslides throughout the region this week.
Hong Kong has increased its typhoon warning to eight, just two levels below the maximum rank. The most intense typhoon to hit the city was Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, which injured 200 people, sank ships and destroyed infrastructure, causing an estimated HK$4.6bn (£438m) worth of damage.
Here’s everything we know about Super Typhoon Ragasa:
Where has the storm hit?
Super Typhoon Ragasa struck small Philippine islands located in the country’s northern tip on Monday. At least one person was killed and over 10,000 were evacuated from northern and central Luxon, the Philippines Department of the Interior and Local Government said in a statement.
Schools and government offices were shut elsewhere in the country, including in the capital, Manila.
The storm also hit Taiwan, where at least six people were injured. Over 7,600 people from southern and eastern regions were evacuated and transport was disrupted.
The weather is expected to deteriorate rapidly in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Super Typhoon Ragasa is expected to hit China’s Guangdong province on Wednesday from midday.
Water levels are expected to rise about two metres (six feet) along Hong Kong's coastal areas and maximum water levels could rise as high as four to five metres (12-15 feet) in some areas.
The storm is predicted to move towards northern Vietnam in the coming days, potentially impacting millions.
What advice have people in China been given?
Super Typhoon Ragasa poses a "severe threat" to the Guangdong province, the Hong Kong weather authority said on Tuesday.
"The Government advises members of the public with long or difficult home journeys or having to return to outlying islands to begin their journeys now," the authority said in a Facebook post.
"The Government is now making arrangements to release its employees accordingly."
Local authorities gave out sandbags for people to put outside their homes in low-lying areas in hope that it will protect them from tidal surges. Hong Kong uthorities have urged citizens to stay at home.
Will travel be disrupted?
Yes. At least 600 flights from Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines and other carriers have been canceled. However, Hong Kong International Airport will keep some restaurants and shops open for 24 hours for stranded passengers.
270 flights were canceled in Taiwan.
Is climate change to blame?
The exact relationship between climate change and Ragasa is not known.
Climate change is not believed to increase the frequency of hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones worldwide. However, global warming can make these weather events more intense, including higher wind speeds, more rainfall and a higher risk of coastal flooding.
