China Shuts Cities as Super Typhoon Ragasa Nears Guangdong

China has moved into full emergency mode as Super Typhoon Ragasa barrels toward its southern coast, forcing major cities to suspend schools, businesses, and factory operations.

At least 10 cities in Guangdong province, home to some of the world’s busiest manufacturing hubs, announced shutdowns on Tuesday. Tens of millions of residents are now under strict safety measures as the storm churns through the South China Sea with winds of up to 230 km/h (140 mph).

Shenzhen, the country’s leading technology hub, has evacuated more than 400,000 people. Authorities there warned of dangerous conditions including “severe wind, rain, waves and floods,” urging citizens to stay indoors as work and markets closed by the afternoon.

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Zhuhai, Dongguan, and Foshan joined the list of cities halting daily life, with officials in Foshan describing the storm as a “critical defence situation.”

Ragasa is expected to make landfall along Guangdong’s central and western coast within 24 hours, according to the provincial emergency management bureau. The storm had already battered parts of the Philippines earlier this week, where one fatality was reported.

In the surrounding waters—including the northern South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and the Bashi Channel—Chinese authorities advised vessels to steer clear of dangerous conditions.

With its immense population and dense industrial zones, Guangdong faces a significant disruption as the typhoon bears down, bringing with it powerful winds, torrential rains, and the threat of flooding.