China has evacuated hundreds of thousands of people and ordered at least 10 cities to close schools and some businesses as the strongest storm of the year bears down on its southern coast.
Hong Kong has upgraded its typhoon warning to eight - just two levels below the maximum - ahead of the arrival of Super Typhoon Ragasa.
The storm is expected to make landfall in China's Guangdong province on Wednesday, where some 370,000 people have been evacuated so far, as authorities warn of a 'catastrophic' situation.
Ragasa has been dubbed the 'King of Storms' by China's meteorological agency and is expected to move towards northern Vietnam in the coming days, potentially affecting millions.
On Tuesday, supermarket shelves in Hong Kong were wiped empty of fresh bread, vegetables, meat, and instant noodles as residents prepared to hunker down.
Hong Kong International Airport said it expected 'significant disruption to flight operations' from 18:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday until the next day, with over 500 Cathay Pacific flights expected to be canceled and Hong Kong Airlines stopping all departures from the city.
In cities across southern China, shop owners piled sandbags in preparation for the storm's arrival, particularly in low-lying areas next to the seafront, where there are concerns about tidal surges. Many have taped up the windows of their homes and businesses, hoping to reduce potential destruction.
Super typhoon Ragasa - equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane - packed wind gusts of up to 285 km/h (177 mph) at its highest point on Monday, triggering warnings of floods, storm surges, and landslides across the region this week.
Authorities have compared Ragasa's potential impact on the city of Hong Kong to previous severe storms that inflicted significant damage and economic losses.
While the island of Taiwan remained largely unscathed after Ragasa passed through overnight, at least six people were injured, and more than 100 international flights were canceled. The region, which has experienced severe weather, continues to remain on alert as Ragasa moves toward the mainland.
