Super Typhoon Ragasa is forecast to be the strongest storm since 2018 to hit southern China, causing authorities in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan provinces to declare a state of emergency at the highest level.
The latest storm news from the Quang Dong Meteorological Agency said that super typhoon Ragasa is expected to make landfall in the coastal area from Chu Hai city to Tu Van district on September 24.
The storm forecast shows that at 1:00 p.m. on September 24, the center of the storm was at 21.7 degrees North latitude, 112.6 degrees East longitude; in the coastal waters of Quang Dong province. The strongest wind near the center of the storm is level 15-16, gusting over level 17. The storm is moving in a West-Northwest direction at 20-25km per hour.
Strong winds, heavy rain and the risk of flash floods and landslides have caused the Quang Dong provincial government to request the suspension of all production, business, transportation and school activities in localities in the eye of the storm.
Many expressways and overpasses in Chu Hai were closed. The Chu Hai port gate on the Hong Kong - Chu Hai - Ma Cao bridge has temporarily stopped clearing, while the bridge itself has been blocked to ensure safety.
In Guangxi, more than 6,000 tourists on Weizhou Island were urgently evacuated to the mainland.
Hainan also immediately stopped ferries and trains and prepared to evacuate people in low-lying areas. In the capital Hai Khau, the government announced that students would be off school, stop public activities, parks and outdoor services.
Not only affecting the lives of tens of millions of people, super typhoon Ragasa also directly affects the financial and trade activities of the region.
Hong Kong (China) - a major economic center of Asia, has issued a signal of storm No. 8 (T8), the third highest warning level, causing many financial activities to be interrupted.
One of the biggest deals of the year - Zijin Gold's $3.2 billion IPO plan - is at risk of being delayed.
According to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (China), if the T8 signal is maintained from 9:00 a.m. to noon on the last day of receiving stock registration, the entire IPO process must be postponed by at least 1 working day.
This means that super typhoon Ragasa could "bleep" the offering schedule, causing significant disruption in the capital market.
According to the storm forecast of the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), by 1:00 a.m. on September 25, the center of storm No. 9 Ragasa was about 220km east of Mong Cai (Quang Ninh). The storm intensity will weaken to level 12-13, gusting to level 15.
At 1:00 p.m. on September 25, the center of storm No. 9 was at 21.3 degrees North latitude, 107.8 degrees East longitude; in the coastal waters of Quang Ninh - Hai Phong. Storm intensity level 9-10, gust level 12.
At 1:00 p.m. on September 26, the storm moved into the Upper Laos area, weakening into a low pressure area.
