Beijing (EFE).- The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen was preparing Tuesday to suspend train and air services, canceling classes and evacuating hundreds of thousands of residents as super-Typhoon Ragasa barrels toward the area.
Local and national authorities were preparing for what they warn could be one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in several years.
Official notices indicate that all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Shenzhen will be closed from Tuesday through Wednesday.
The international airport is set to halt operations starting Tuesday at 8 p.m. local time. Meanwhile, over 400,000 people living in coastal or otherwise at-risk areas are being evacuated as a precaution.
The city, home to more than 17 million people, has begun canceling train services from midday Tuesday through Thursday. These sweeping measures are meant to avoid the disruption seen during previous severe typhoons.
Experts caution that Ragasa may unleash sustained wind speeds up to 260kmph and rain accumulations of 300 millimeters, raising the risk of severe flooding — risks exacerbated by coinciding high tides.
Authorities are mobilizing emergency resources — roads and port infrastructure are being reinforced, ferries and other marine routes shut down.
More than 10,000 vessels have reportedly been ordered to stay moored, and nearly 400 ferry routes suspended. A national emergency response has been activated, involving more than 30,000 personnel tasked with securing supplies and readiness for rescue operations. EFE
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