The sound of rush hour in Zhuhai on China's southern coast has been replaced by howling winds and sheets of rain. Branches from falling trees and pieces of metal flew along empty roads on Wednesday as Typhoon Ragasa bore down. Police vehicles patrol streets with megaphones, urging residents to stay indoors, but the gusts of 100 mph (160 km/h) winds drown out their warnings. This year's strongest storm, Ragasa, has made its way across the South China Sea after hitting the Philippines and Taiwan, where at least 15 lives were lost due to flooding.
As the storm brushed past Hong Kong, steep waves crashed onto land, leaving over 60 injured. Making landfall in China at 17:00 local time (09:00 GMT), nearly two million people had been evacuated in Guangdong province. Zhuhai, with its significant tourist appeal, was prepared as residents taped windows and businesses employed sandbags to prevent flooding.
Authorities have long been proactive in disaster preparedness, reversing past criticisms of their response to natural calamities. In Guangdong, weather officials warned of a 'catastrophic disaster' in anticipation of Ragasa. Families in evacuation centers seek shelter, and local workers have cleared debris and monitored the coastline.
Despite the devastation expected, locals exhibit a somber resignation rather than panic, indicating a familiarity with such weather events. As China navigates through this year's extreme weather, with various incidents from storms to droughts disrupting life, Typhoon Ragasa proves to be yet another challenge for the nation.
As the storm brushed past Hong Kong, steep waves crashed onto land, leaving over 60 injured. Making landfall in China at 17:00 local time (09:00 GMT), nearly two million people had been evacuated in Guangdong province. Zhuhai, with its significant tourist appeal, was prepared as residents taped windows and businesses employed sandbags to prevent flooding.
Authorities have long been proactive in disaster preparedness, reversing past criticisms of their response to natural calamities. In Guangdong, weather officials warned of a 'catastrophic disaster' in anticipation of Ragasa. Families in evacuation centers seek shelter, and local workers have cleared debris and monitored the coastline.
Despite the devastation expected, locals exhibit a somber resignation rather than panic, indicating a familiarity with such weather events. As China navigates through this year's extreme weather, with various incidents from storms to droughts disrupting life, Typhoon Ragasa proves to be yet another challenge for the nation.
