Super Typhoon Ragasa: in China, Shenzhen to evacuate 400,000; Guangdong suspends trains

Name: What is a super typhoon and how should we prepare for one?
Uploaded: 2025-09-22T06:19:55.000Z
Duration: 5 min 13 s
Description: What is a super typhoon and how should we prepare for one?

Ragasa is expected to make landfall from Shanwei in Guangdong province to Wenchang in Hainan sometime on Wednesday

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A cloud map from the Fengyun-4 satellite shows Super Typhoon Ragasa, which is expected to make landfall in China on Wednesday. Photo: handout

William Zheng

Published: 2:19pm, 22 Sep 2025Updated: 7:10pm, 22 Sep 2025

Cities in China’s southern provinces are bracing for Ragasa, the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, with Shenzhen warning of “disastrous calamities” ahead and preparing to relocate hundreds of thousands of people.

The National Meteorological Centre said on Sunday that Ragasa, the 18th typhoon this year, had intensified into a super typhoon on Sunday morning and was expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to wide areas of the country’s southern and eastern regions.

It is expected to make landfall along coastal areas from Shanwei in Guangdong province to Wenchang in Hainan sometime on Wednesday, according to the centre.

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What is a super typhoon and how should we prepare for one?

From Tuesday to Thursday, heavy torrential rain was expected in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, with some areas likely to receive up to 280mm (11 inches) of precipitation, it said.

In some areas, wind speed is expected to reach around 200km/h (123mph) according to predictions by Weather China. According to the Hong Kong Observatory storm tracker, wind speeds could reach 220km/h on Tuesday as Ragasa approaches Hong Kong.

Guangdong, which was hit by Typhoon Mitag over the weekend, has issued a series of warnings and advised preventive measures to cope with the strong winds and heavy rain.

Guangzhou’s rail authority said on Monday that from midday on Tuesday it would start reducing railway services in the province. All trains, including high-speed and regular rail services, would be suspended throughout Wednesday before gradually resuming on Thursday.

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