China typhoon LIVE: 370,000 people evacuated from city as Hong Kong goes into lockdown

24 mins ago00:27 William Morgan

Hong Kong and southern China are continuing to be battered by Super Typhoon Ragasa, as dawn breaks over a city ravaged by wind speeds reaching 137mph.

The devastation caused by the world's largest storm this year has seen large trees and billboards fall onto highways and residential buildings, with emergency crews braving Ragasa's high winds to restore damaged infrastructure.

High winds are also now whipping up a storm surge around the city, with seawater levels rising rapidly and flooding areas along the Shing Mun River.

Ragasa is expected to pass closest to Hong Kong in the next two hours, coming within 100km of the city as it bears down on western Guangdong province.

2 hours ago23:05 William Morgan

Super Typhoon Ragasa could be seen from space barrelling towards Hong Kong, with astronauts aboard the International Space Station capturing the vast weather system as they passed overhead.

Ragasa reached 177mph as it made landfall in Hong Kong, which issued the highest level 10 typhoon alert to residents, as the strongest storm on Earth made landfall in the city.

Meanwhile, 400,000 residents in China's Guangdong province have been ordered to flee their homes as the Super Typhoon continues westward.

4 hours ago20:40 John Varga

Waves crash into sea barriers (Image: Getty)

Hong Kongers take photos of the rough seas (Image: Getty)

5 hours ago19:48 John Varga

Emergency responders rushed to Wang Tau Hom East Road, after a tree was blown over by strong winds and crushed a taxi parked by the side of the road.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident, and firefighters removed the debris from the road.

Meanwhile in Tai O, roads have started to flood, as waves crash over sea barriers.

7 hours ago17:53 John Varga

Down town Hong Kong has become somewhat of a ghost town.

Images show street normally teeming with cars and people eerily deserted.

The photo below shows Hennessy Road and was posted by Scott Christensen to his X social media account.

Hennessy Road (Image: Social Media)

7 hours ago17:48 John Varga

7 hours ago17:43 John Varga

A woman and her five-year-old son have been rushed to hopsital and placed in intensive care after strong waves swept them into the sea, the South China Post reports.

The family of four, including the 40-year-old father and nine-year-old daughter, had gone to the breakwater at Ka Yip Street in Chai Wan to watch powerful waves batter the coast.

However, the mother and son were swept away by a large wave, forcing the father to jump into the sea to rescue them.

8 hours ago16:40 John Varga

Supermarket are reporting a huge influx of customers, as Hong Kongers stock up on food supplies.

Images shared to social media show food shelves lying completely empty.

Shelves lie empty at a supermarket (Image: Social Media)

8 hours ago16:33 John Varga

A local resident in Hong Kong is reporting that winds are starting to get stronger.

Marianne Bray says winds are "really picking up in and the ocean is roaring."

She added people were shoring up their homes with plywood and were strapping down roofs.

8 hours ago16:29 John Varga

Typhoon No. 18 has intensified into a severe typhoon, with Beaufort Force 11 winds expected in Hong Kong on September 24.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall along coast from Huizhou, Guangdong Province to Wenchang, Hainan, China.

Hong Kong Observatory has issued a T8 Storm Signal as Typhoon Ragasa moves west-northwest toward Pearl River Estuary.

The Chinese State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has launched a Level IV emergency response to flood and typhoon prevention in Guangxi.

Macau Airport has suspended more than 200 flights until September 24 due to the impact of Typhoon Ragasa.

The typhoon is expected to cause a lot of damage (Image: Social Media)

9 hours ago16:19 John Varga

The coastal towns of Heng Fa Tsuen and South Horizons have already seen rough seas and powerful waves crshing over barriers.

Hongkongers have been warned to stay away from shorelines.

9 hours ago16:17 John Varga

A warning has been issued by authorities over rises in sea levels during the storm.

Coastal water levels along the harbor are expected to rise by about 2 metres on Wednesday.

Water levels are expected to begin rising after 6 a.m. and peak in the late morning or early afternoon, generally reaching about 3.5 to 4 meters above chart datum.

Water levels in Tolo Harbour are likely to reach 4 to 5 meters above chart datum.

Citizens are advised to take appropriate precautions as soon as possible.

9 hours ago16:13 John Varga

The Hong Kong Observatory has isued citizens advice on how to best protetc themselves from the powerful storm.

Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 - Wind Preventive Measures Advisory:

1. Please promptly complete all windproofing measures at home. Lock doors and windows tightly, and install crossbars if necessary. Apply tape to large windows exposed to the wind to minimize damage in the event of glass breakage. Please promptly clear fallen leaves and debris from drains.

2. Avoid standing near windows exposed to the wind. Pre-select a safe area inside the house to take shelter in the event of glass breakage.

3. Due to the storm surge, low-lying areas may experience severe flooding or seawater backflow. Residents are advised to avoid potentially affected low-lying areas and stay away from dangerous areas.

4. Flights at Hong Kong International Airport may be affected by the weather. Passengers are advised to check flight availability with their airlines before traveling to the airport.

5. Owners of fluorescent tube signs are requested to disconnect the power supply to their signs.

6. For the latest weather information, please listen to the radio, television or visit the Hong Kong Observatory website and mobile app.

9 hours ago16:06 John Varga

Guangfu Township of Hualien is experiencing severe flooding due to the torrential rains vbrought by the powerful storm.

Video images show cars being swept away by the waters.

9 hours ago16:03 John Varga

Qantas has suspended all flights to Hong Kong for 36 hours due to the storm.

Hong Kong airport, a major travel hub for Asia, will be shut down for at least two days.

The carrier said it would contact customers who were impacted.