Hong Kong’s airport may suspend all flights from Tuesday evening (23 September) as Super Typhoon Ragasa barrels toward the city, with a No. 8 warning signal likely to be issued.
According to the South China Morning Post, the suspension could last about 36 hours, forcing the Airport Authority to close the terminal from 6 PM tomorrow (23 September) until 6 AM Thursday (25 September).
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The emergencyĀ monitoring and support centre has been activated
The typhoon is expected to bring hurricane-force winds of up to 220km/h (137mph) over the next few days.
Hong Kong issued a No. 1 typhoon signal yesterday (21 September) at 12:20 PM, with plans to raise it to No. 3 later that night and possibly No. 8 the following day.
Typhoon Ragasa, packing winds of 230km/h as it crossed the Luzon Strait, poses a serious threat to Guangdong’s coast due to its wide circulation and speed.
Chief Executive John Lee has orderedĀ the Security Bureau to activate the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre and urged departments to prepare early. Forecasters warned of storm surges similar to Typhoons Hato (2017) and Mangkhut (2018), both of which triggered the city’s highest No. 10 signal.
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“Water levels are forecast to rise about 4 metres above chart”
Forecasters also warned that the typhoon would be closest to Hong Kong on Wednesday (24 September) morning, leaving residents with little time to prepare. They cautioned that areas previously flooded by Hato and Mangkhut could be inundated again.
The Observatory noted that water levels could rise by about 2 metres in coastal areas, with Tolo Harbour reaching as high as 4 to 5 metres, while winds were also expected to reach hurricane force offshore and on high ground.
“Water levels are expected to reach around 3.5 to 4.0 metres above chart datum, and could rise even higher in Tolo Harbour, reaching 4 to 5 metres,” it added.
According to the Observatory, sea levels in Tai Po Kau reached 4.71 metres during Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, just below the 5.03-metre record set by Wanda in 1962.
The MTR Corporation said its light rail and open-air heavy rail services would be suspended under a No. 8 warning signal, with bus services stopping three hours later.
Greater Bay Airlines also announced the cancellation of 16 flights to and from Hong Kong between Tuesday and Thursday.
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