Monster Typhoon Ragasa Threatens South China
Right now, one of the strongest typhoons in recent years, known as Ragasa, is closing in on South China after sweeping past the Luzon Strait. Meteorologists have been calling it a “monster-level” storm, and with good reason. Its strength has been compared to some of the most destructive typhoons of the past decade, like Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018.
Hong Kong and Macau have already raised the number 8 storm signal, which is the third-highest alert in their system. That means schools have been suspended for at least two days, and hundreds of flights are expected to be canceled. In Macau, the government urged people to stock up on at least three days’ worth of food and water, while low-lying areas were warned about the risk of serious flooding. Over in Guangdong province, the highest red warning has been issued, and more than 370,000 residents have already been relocated.
Also Read:- IREN Doubles AI GPU Power, Revenue Surge Expected
- Experts Reject Trump’s Claim Linking Tylenol to Autism
Even though Ragasa weakened slightly after entering the South China Sea, its winds were still clocked at around 209 kilometers per hour on Tuesday afternoon, placing it at the top of the Beaufort scale and roughly equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane in the United States. Heavy rains and flooding are expected to pound Guangdong, Guangxi, and nearby provinces through midweek. Officials in Shenzhen and other coastal cities have been trimming roadside trees and reinforcing infrastructure in preparation.
The scale of this storm is enormous. With a storm radius stretching more than 300 kilometers, it’s not just South China that’s feeling the impact. Parts of Taiwan, especially the east and south, have been drenched by Ragasa’s outer rain bands. While the typhoon won’t make landfall there, schools and offices in several counties have been closed, and local flights have been disrupted. Experts in Taiwan have warned that the interaction between Ragasa’s massive circulation and mountainous terrain could still trigger destructive downpours.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has already felt Ragasa’s power. Thousands of residents were evacuated from northern Luzon, and the storm brought flooding and storm surges exceeding three meters in some areas. Although no widespread casualties have been reported, the government ordered schools and businesses shut down across many provinces, including Manila.
In Hong Kong, authorities stressed the need for “forward planning.” Emergency shelters were prepared, and supermarkets saw a wave of panic buying, with vegetables, instant noodles, and bottled water quickly disappearing from shelves. Even horse races and lottery draws have been suspended. Airlines, including Cathay Pacific, announced the cancellation of hundreds of flights, with passengers urged to monitor schedules closely.
By Wednesday, Ragasa is expected to make landfall somewhere between Shenzhen and Xuwen, before moving west toward northern Vietnam. But until then, its destructive winds, heavy rains, and storm surges are expected to pose extreme risks across the region. Officials have warned repeatedly: this is not a storm to underestimate.
Read More:
0 Comments