China upgrades Ragasa to super typhoon

Typhoon Ragasa, the 18th typhoon of the year, was upgraded to a super typhoon on Sunday morning, according to China's National Meteorological Center, Central China Television reported.

It is currently the strongest typhoon in the northwest Pacific this year, with maximum sustained winds reaching 60 meters per second, equivalent to force 17, as of 11 am on Sunday.

The typhoon is forecast to continue moving northwestward at 15 to 20 kilometers per hour, maintaining its intensity. It is expected to traverse the Bashi Channel on Monday night and enter the northeastern South China Sea by early Tuesday, heading toward the waters off Guangdong, provincial meteorological authorities said.

From Tuesday through Thursday, Guangdong is anticipated to experience severe wind and rain due to the typhoon's influence.

Ragasa is projected to make landfall on the province's central or western coastal areas on Thursday, most likely between early morning and afternoon, as a strong or super typhoon reaching force 14 to 16. The typhoon's close offshore path suggests that it could make landfall at any time and possibly multiple times, with uncertainty remaining over the exact time and location.

The Guangdong provincial meteorological authorities have issued warnings about Ragasa's extreme intensity and expansive wind field, which could bring severe gales, heavy rainfall, and storm surges to the northern and central South China Sea, as well as coastal and inland regions of the province.

Authorities have urged comprehensive disaster preparedness measures, emphasizing that all vessels and personnel in the affected areas should return to port promptly and ensure safety management after docking.