Super Typhoon Ragasa, the 18th and strongest storm of the year, is expected to bring extreme winds and heavy rainfall to China's Hainan Island, officials said Monday.
The storm is forecast to most severely affect northern and western regions of the island from Wednesday to Thursday. In response, the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration has raised its typhoon response to Level II.
The Haikou Transportation and Port and Shipping Administration announced that Xinhai Port, Xiuying Port and Railway South Port will suspend operations starting at 6 pm on Tuesday. The suspension is expected to remain in effect until Thursday evening, depending on the weather conditions. Travelers and drivers were advised to plan ahead and complete crossings early.
According to the Hainan Meteorological Observatory, Ragasa was located about 1,170 kilometers southeast of Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, as of 3 pm on Monday, with maximum sustained winds of 62 meters (203 feet) per second near its center. The storm is moving west-northwest at about 20 km per hour and is likely to make landfall between Shenzhen and Zhanjiang in Guangdong on Wednesday.
While the eye of the typhoon may not directly hit Hainan, the island is still expected to experience severe conditions. Coastal areas in the north and west are forecast to see winds of 10 to 12 on China's tropical cyclone intensity scale, with torrential rain expected in Haikou, the capital, and other regions.
Authorities have urged more than 2,000 vessels to take shelter, with 46 Ro-Ro passenger ferries in the Qiongzhou Strait relocated to safe waters near Sanya by Monday afternoon, according to the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration.
Other precautionary measures include clearing vegetation near power lines, reinforcing utility poles in Wanning and identifying 78 flood-prone road sections in Haikou. Residents were advised to stockpile essential supplies and avoid unnecessary travel.
A separate wind disaster warning has been issued for rubber plantations in several cities, including Haikou and Wenchang, advising growers to reinforce trees and trim branches to reduce damage.
![The Hainan Maritime Safety Administration officials inspect ports to check anti-typhoon measures for vessels and order them to reinforce moorings or move to shelter in southern Hainan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]](http://image.cns.com.cn/ecns_editor/transform/20250923/daE9-hevnqwe9218367.jpg "The Hainan Maritime Safety Administration officials inspect ports to check anti-typhoon measures for vessels and order them to reinforce moorings or move to shelter in southern Hainan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]")
Hainan Airport Group said it is working with partners, including air traffic control and airlines, to monitor the typhoon's path and evaluate potential disruptions. Any updates to airport operations will be communicated in a timely manner.
Meteorological authorities said the typhoon's path could change and advised the public to monitor the latest forecasts and follow official guidance.
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