Super typhoon Ragasa hit the Philippines and is currently on track to storm through Hong Kong with winds of up to 137mph.
The city rushed to prepare for Ragasa on Tuesday, with officials warning of a 'serious threat' comparable to some of the most destructive storms in the city's recent history.
Ragasa was generating winds with maximum sustained speeds of 137mph at its centre as it churned across the South China Sea, having earlier lashed parts of the Philippines, according to Hong Kong's weather service.
The finance centre was preparing for extensive disruption and damage, while nearby Chinese tech hub Shenzhen has ordered the evacuation of 400,000 people.
'Ragasa will pose a serious threat to Hong Kong, which could reach the levels of Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018,' Hong Kong's number-two official Eric Chan said on Monday - referring to two super typhoons that each cost hundreds of millions in property damage.
