Schools and businesses in Hong Kong suspended operations today, Tuesday (22/9), ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa – the strongest tropical cyclone since the beginning of the year – with authorities urging citizens to stay at home, as most passenger flights are expected to be canceled or suspended until Thursday. Meanwhile, residents rushed to supermarkets, emptying shelves and stocking up on large quantities of essential goods, fearing that stores would remain closed for two days.
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Powerful Super Typhoon “Ragasa” expected to strike Hong Kong – Citizens make frantic preparations
Glass windows in homes and businesses were covered with adhesive tape, with residents hoping this move would help limit problems from potentially broken glass. Ragasa, with typhoon-category winds expected to reach 220 km/h, poses a “serious threat to the coast of Guangdong,” announced the Hong Kong Observatory, referring to the Chinese province located next to the financial center.
Ragasa will maintain its super typhoon strength as it approaches the coast of Guangdong while affecting Hong Kong, mainland China, and Taiwan after sweeping through northern Philippines yesterday, Monday. It is expected to reach the coasts of Guangdong from tomorrow, Wednesday, at midday until late afternoon. Authorities in Guangdong have already evacuated over 370,000 people from their homes, according to Xinhua news agency.
Hong Kong shuts schools and cancels flights as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches with a force officials warn will be among the most destructive in the city’s recent historyhttps://t.co/gQA4hgHRxO pic.twitter.com/gjeTmgHiK6
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) September 23, 2025
For super typhoon preparedness, Shenzhen.
The #Ragasa, Category 5, the strongest storms ever recorded, is about to hit the area of southeastern China, including Hong Kong and Shenzhen. pic.twitter.com/Y4QDNNk2M3— China in Pictures (@tongbingxue) September 23, 2025
Hong Kong authorities’ warnings
Hong Kong issued a typhoon warning category 8, the third highest level at 2:20 p.m. (local time, 09:20 Greece time), calling for businesses to close and suspending public transport services. Problems have already been created for more than 700 flights, including in neighboring Macau and Taiwan. Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly later today and the Observatory said it would assess whether to issue a higher-level warning late today or early tomorrow.
The Observatory also warned of sea level rise, similar to those observed during Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, when billions of dollars in damage were caused. Water levels are expected to rise by about two meters along Hong Kong’s coastal areas while in some areas maximum water height could reach 4 to 5 meters, the Observatory said, urging residents to take preventive measures.
Sandbags distributed to residents – 260 km/h winds threaten China and Hong Kong
Local authorities distributed sandbags to residents to protect homes in low-lying areas. Hong Kong’s stock exchange will remain open, as it changed its policy last year, allowing it to continue trading regardless of weather conditions. When Typhoon Ragasa reached its strongest phase yesterday, maximum winds near the typhoon’s eye exceeded 260 km/h, making it the strongest category 5 storm of 2025. It has since been downgraded, but can still cause chaos in China’s densely populated coastal areas as a category 4 typhoon.
Chinese authorities have activated flood control measures in several southern provinces, warning of heavy rainfall from tonight. In over 10 cities in Guangdong, companies and schools have closed while transport has been suspended due to storm warnings and rising water levels. Residents in Macau, the world’s largest gambling center, also awaited the typhoon’s passage. All casinos will remain closed from 5 p.m. (local time, 12:00 Greece time) when the typhoon warning in the former Portuguese colony is upgraded to category 8. In Taiwan, rainfall reached 60 cm in mountainous eastern areas and 25 people were injured, while transport problems continued today for a second day with 273 flights canceled.
