Super Typhoon Ragasa hits Hong Kong

Hong Kong and parts of southern China were on high alert early Wednesday as Super Typhoon Ragasa approached with powerful winds and lashing rain, forcing Chinese authorities to shut down schools and businesses in at least 10 cities.

Ragasa had already toppled trees, torn the roofs off buildings and killed at least two people while ripping through the northern Philippines, where thousands sought shelter in schools and evacuation centres. The super typhoon was generating maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometres per hour near its center while moving west across the South China Sea.

It also warned of significant swells and storm surge as the storm moves through, with some areas potentially seeing water levels four to five metres above normal.