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| Ragasa is forecast to cause storm surges to the same level as Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 (File) |
Hong Kong residents have begun doing what it deems best in the face of an approaching typhoon: stockpiling on food and other supplies.
With Super Typhoon Ragasa
(Filipino word for surge) expected to enter Hong Kong by Tuesday or Wednesday,
locals who live in flood-prone areas like Heng Fa Chuen have been reported as
accumulating supplies.
Many residents have also been
busy sticking adhesive tape to large windows that some stores have reported
running out of this must-have item during a storm. Plastic flood barriers have
also been placed in front of some buildings to keep the water away.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The Hong Kong Observatory has
warned that Ragasa could intensify even more as it leaves the northern Philippines
and slams into Hong Kong.
"Under the influence of
significant storm surge, the sea level over coastal areas by then may be
similar to that of Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018," the Observatory
warned.
The forecaster said Ragasa
would bring heavy rain and thunderstorms gradually on Tuesday, with gale to
storm force winds prevailing on Wednesday.
Ragasa strengthened to Super Typhoon
late on Sunday as it hovered over Luzon Strait, causing the government to
suspend work and classes in several areas, including Metro Manila.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical
and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has warned of destructive
winds, heavy rains, storm surges and dangerously rough seas as Ragasa (local
name Nando) moves closer to extreme northern Luzon.
As of 4pm Sunday, the eye of Nando was
spotted 450 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds
of 185 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 230 kph.
It was expected to move west-northwest,
before turning west toward the extreme northern part of Luzon today.
On this track, it may pass close to or make
landfall over Batanes or the Babuyan Islands in Cagayan by this afternoon or
evening.
It will exit the Philippines on its way
to the coast of Guangdong by tomorrow morning.
