Is South China Prepared for the Approach of Typhoon Ragasa?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Classes suspended across southern China due to typhoon Ragasa.
- Business operations in affected areas are halted.
- Essential services will continue to function.
- Typhoon expected to make landfall on Wednesday evening.
- Residents are urged to follow safety protocols.
Guangzhou, Sep 24 (NationPress) Classes, industrial activities, public transport, and business functions were halted on Wednesday in various regions of southern China's Guangdong Province as typhoon Ragasa drew near.
As per the flood, drought, and typhoon control headquarters in Zhanjiang City, educational institutions suspended classes around 3 p.m. on Tuesday as a precautionary measure. From 3 p.m. Wednesday onwards, all work, production, public transport, and business activities in Zhanjiang will be paused.
Authorities noted that essential services such as water, power, gas, communications, medical care, and emergency response will continue to operate, while urging the suspension of any non-essential activities that could pose safety hazards due to the typhoon.
Typhoon Ragasa, marking the 18th typhoon of the year, entered the South China Sea late Monday and was situated approximately 170 km southeast of Yangjiang City at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. It is projected to move northwest at a speed of 20 km per hour and is expected to make landfall on Wednesday evening along the coastal regions between Yangjiang and Zhanjiang.
The National Meteorological Centre of China issued an orange alert, which is the second highest in the country's four-tier weather warning system, on Wednesday as the typhoon is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds, according to Xinhua news agency.
Previously, on Tuesday, Guangdong Province escalated its wind emergency response to the highest level, anticipating Typhoon Ragasa to land as a strong or super strong typhoon within 24 hours along the central or western coastal areas of the province.
The typhoon is expected to unleash rainstorms and powerful winds, with certain areas experiencing extreme rainfall, while locations directly in its path could see gusts reaching up to 60 meters per second.
The provincial flood, drought, and wind control headquarters has called for the highest standards, strictest requirements, and most concrete measures to be implemented, ordering affected localities to suspend classes, work, production, public transport, and business operations. Cities such as Zhuhai, Shenzhen, and Jiangmen have already enacted these suspensions.
Some highways and bridges in Zhuhai have been closed, and the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has suspended outbound passenger clearance, with the main bridge also closed.
In the adjacent Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, all passenger and ferry services in the coastal waters have been suspended.
China operates a four-tier emergency response system, with 'Level I' being the most severe.