China has ordered the closure of schools, businesses, and markets across at least 10 major cities as Super Typhoon Ragasa barrels toward its southern coast, threatening tens of millions of people and thousands of factories in one of the country’s most economically vital regions.
The Guangdong Provincial Emergency Management Bureau said Ragasa is expected to make landfall within 24 hours in central and western coastal areas of the province. Authorities have triggered the highest-level windstorm emergency response, warning of potentially catastrophic winds and floods.
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, Ragasa is packing sustained winds and gusts of up to 230 km/h (140 mph) as it churns across the South China Sea, after battering parts of the Philippines where at least one person was killed and dozens displaced.
In Shenzhen, a key technology and financial hub, authorities have ordered the evacuation of over 400,000 residents from high-risk areas. Workplaces, markets, and transport services will be suspended from Tuesday afternoon.
“Except for emergency responders and essential services, residents should stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movement,” the city’s emergency department said.
Other major cities, including Zhuhai, Dongguan, and Foshan, have also suspended business operations, closed schools, and mobilized emergency shelters.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has issued warnings for vessels operating in the northern South China Sea, the southern Taiwan Strait, and the Bashi Channel, advising ships to reroute or dock for safety. Flights and train services in some areas are expected to be disrupted as the storm nears land.
Meteorologists have warned that Ragasa could become one of the most powerful storms to hit southern China in recent years. Scientists say human-driven climate change is contributing to stronger, wetter, and more frequent tropical cyclones, making preparedness critical.
Emergency crews across Guangdong have been deployed with rescue boats, medical teams, and backup power generators in anticipation of widespread flooding, storm surges, and potential landslides.
Authorities have urged residents to stock up on food, water, and essential supplies, as the full impact of Ragasa is expected to be felt from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning.
