HONG KONG: Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone this year, lashed Hong Kong with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain on Wednesday.
The storm forced the city to shut down and led to the cancellation of more than 700 flights.
Panic buying swept through the city this week as people rushed to supermarkets, leaving shelves bare and forming long queues over fears of prolonged shop closures.
Residents across Hong Kong taped up their windows in an effort to minimise the danger from shattered glass.
Packing hurricane-force winds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, Ragasa passed closest to the territory early on Wednesday morning.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued its highest typhoon warning, Signal 10, late on Tuesday, urging most businesses and transport services to cease operations.
“Seas will be phenomenal with swells,” the observatory said.
Authorities warned of significant storm surges, with water levels expected to reach a maximum of around four metres around noon.
The financial hub opened 49 temporary shelters across various districts, with 727 people seeking refuge.
Hong Kong’s Stock Exchange remained open, having changed its policy last year to continue trading during severe weather.
Ragasa maintained super typhoon intensity as it moved towards the coast of Guangdong province in mainland China.
Authorities in Guangdong evacuated more than 770,000 people ahead of the storm’s expected landfall.
The neighbouring gambling hub of Macau also issued its No. 10 typhoon warning signal. – Reuters