HONG KONG (Reuters) – Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone this year, lashed out at Hong Kong on Wednesday with hurricanes and heavy rainstorms, while downpours in Taiwan killed 14 people.
Taiwan Fire Department said Wednesday a barrier lake in Hollion County in eastern Taiwan overflowed and sent a wall into a town as heavy rain in Lagasa hit the island.
Taiwan has been hit by the outer edge of Lagasa since Monday, which has brought huge rainfall to the island.
In Hong Kong, the tide swept through parts of the eastern and southern coastline of Asia’s financial hubs, with roads abandoned as authorities directed people to stay indoors.
“The previously sheltered areas may be exposed … the ocean will emit a surprising swell,” the Observatory said.
Ragasa, which is packed with 200 km/h (124 mph) of wind, will be closest to the city in the next few hours, about 100 km (60 miles) south of the densely populated areas.
Ragasa is expected to remain super typhoon
The super typhoon is expected to remain strong as it moves toward the coast of China’s Guangdong province, home to more than 125 million people, and is expected to land from noon to late Wednesday.
Ragasa swept the Northern Philippines on Monday, and swept the north with Taiwan on Tuesday.
The typhoon caused panic purchases in Hong Kong this week, with people crowding in supermarkets with few shelves and in some cases lined up for hours to buy items due to concerns that stores could be closed for two days.
As the typhoon approaches, residents stick windows in the hope of reducing the risk of broken glass injury.
Hong Kong issued a typhoon signal 10 earlier on Wednesday, its highest warning urging businesses and transportation services to close.
According to the South China Morning Post, authorities also sent out a signal of an amber storm, with heavy rain expected to continue and some streets have been partially submerged.
Authorities warned that sea levels were rising, saying they could be similar to those during 2017 Typhoon Hato and 2018 Typhoon Mangkhut, both of which caused billions of dollars in losses.
“The water level will reach its maximum around noon (GMT 0400),” the Observatory said.
A woman and her five-year-old son were swept into the ocean Tuesday after watching a typhoon on the beach, according to the SCMP. According to the SCMP, they said they are now in intensive care after being rescued.
The government said it has opened 49 temporary shelters in various regions, where 727 people are seeking asylum.
Stock exchanges in Hong Kong will remain open. Late last year, it changed its policies to continue trading any weather.
State Broadcasting Corporation CCTV said Guangdong authorities have evacuated 770,000 people.
At the Macau Gambling Centre next to Hong Kong, authorities also issued warning sign No. 10 earlier on Wednesday.
(Reported by Anne Marie Roantree, Jessie Pang and the Hong Kong Newsroom; Ben Blanchard of Taipei wrote Farah Master; Stephen Coates, Editor of Lincoln Feast and Michael Perry)
