City rolls out 'five suspensions' in phases

A commercial building in Futian reinforces its glass facade with sandbags and caution tape as Typhoon Ragasa approaches today. Liu Xudong

Shenzhen will suspend operations at workplaces, business venues, markets in phases starting from 2 p.m. today as Super Typhoon Ragasa is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain between Tuesday night and Wednesday. 

Public transportation will be suspended at 8 p.m, and schools have been closed for two days starting from today, according to a notice issued earlier today by the city’s flood prevention and disaster relief headquarters. 

Except for emergency rescue personnel and those essential to maintaining vital services, residents are advised not to go out unless absolutely necessary.  

Shelters across the city have been opened to the public.   

The city will launch a level-1 citywide emergency response to Super Typhoon Ragasa from 6 p.m. today. 

Ragasa is forecast to make landfall along the coast from Huizhou in Guangdong to Wenchang in Hainan on Wednesday.  

Shenzhen has ordered all units responsible for public services and disaster relief to take measures to ensure the supply and operation of water, electricity, gas, and food, as well as fire services, transportation, telecommunications. 

Wang Changxiao, director of the flood prevention and disaster relief at the Shenzhen Emergency Management Bureau, urged residents to prepare at least three days' worth of drinking water, food, medicine and emergency supplies.

"The super typhoon will become one of the most significant storms to hit the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area since 2018," Wang said. "While staying at home, residents should secure doors and windows and have sufficient emergency supplies ready."

Ragasa, the 18th named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, intensified into a super typhoon Sunday and is forecast to likely make landfall along the central or western coastal areas of Guangdong on Wednesday. Heavy rain is expected to hit eastern Guangdong, the Pearl River Delta and western Guangdong from Tuesday to Thursday, with exceptionally severe rain possible in some areas.

Guangdong on Monday raised its wind emergency response to Level II, and multiple cities have announced suspension measures. The Level II response, the second-highest in China's four-tier warning system, was activated at 10 a.m. Monday.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced Monday that classes in all schools will be suspended Tuesday and Wednesday. Likewise, the education authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region announced class suspension from Tuesday to Wednesday for secondary schools, primary schools, kindergartens and special schools.