Shenzhen: Super Typhoon Ragasa, after striking the northern Philippines with fierce winds and widespread destruction, is now headed towards southern China. Authorities in Shenzhen are preparing to evacuate 400,000 residents in anticipation of the typhoon’s impact. Shenzhen has initiated this massive evacuation plan as the storm continues its path towards the region.
According to France24.com, Super Typhoon Ragasa made landfall on the Philippines’ Calayan Island within the Babuyan chain, bringing winds reaching up to 215 kilometers per hour. The Philippine weather service reported these conditions, which have caused significant damage and forced over 10,000 Filipinos to evacuate. In response, schools and government offices across 30 provinces, including Manila, were shuttered on Monday.
In China, a larger evacuation effort is underway in Shenzhen, with local authorities planning to relocate hundreds of thousands from vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas. Other cities in Guangdong province have preemptively canceled classes, suspended work, and halted public transportation in preparation for the storm.
Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, announced the cancellation of over 500 flights as a precautionary measure. The airline confirmed that passenger flights to and from Hong Kong International Airport would be suspended from 6pm on Tuesday, with normal operations resuming on Thursday morning.
In Taiwan, meteorologists forecasted “extremely torrential rain” in the eastern regions. The typhoon’s extensive reach, with a storm radius of approximately 320 kilometers, is already impacting parts of Taiwan. Local fire department officer James Wu noted ongoing evacuations in mountainous areas near Pingtung, expressing concerns over potential damage akin to that caused by Typhoon Koinu two years prior.
John Grender Almario, a weather specialist from the Philippines, warned of “severe flooding and landslides” in Luzon’s northern areas. This alert follows recent public protests against alleged corruption in flood-control projects, which were either poorly constructed or left incomplete.
Scientists attribute the increasing intensity of such storms to global warming, emphasizing the role of human-driven climate change in amplifying their power.