Qantas has halted all flights to Hong Kong for 36 hours as the region braces for Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest super typhoons in recent years. The airline announced that Hong Kong International Airport will be closed from 8 p.m. on September 23 until 8 a.m. on September 25. Qantas stated it would reach out to affected customers regarding their travel plans.

Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, also announced significant disruptions, expecting to cancel over 500 flights. A spokesperson for the airline said, "Starting at 6 p.m. tomorrow, September 23, Cathay Pacific's passenger flights arriving at and departing from Hong Kong International Airport will cease operations until resuming during daytime hours on Thursday."

Typhoon Ragasa is currently moving across the Luzon Strait, situated between southern Taiwan and northern Philippines, and is projected to make landfall in Hong Kong and southern China on Tuesday. The weather is anticipated to worsen rapidly, with gale-force winds expected to impact the city on Wednesday. Winds could reach hurricane strength offshore and on elevated areas.

In preparation for the storm, residents in Hong Kong have begun stockpiling essential supplies. Supermarkets have seen long lines, with some products, such as milk, already sold out. Fresh market prices for vegetables have surged to more than triple their usual rates, according to eyewitness accounts.

The Education Bureau announced that all schools will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additionally, the city's hospital authority has implemented special measures to ensure that emergency services remain operational during the storm.

In Shenzhen, a nearby Chinese city, officials are planning a mass evacuation. A post on Shenzhen's Emergency Management WeChat account indicated that the city aims to relocate approximately 400,000 residents, particularly those living in temporary shelters, low-lying areas, and coastal regions.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, over 10,000 people have sought refuge in schools and evacuation centers as Typhoon Ragasa brings heavy rains and strong winds to the northern part of the country. The Babuyan Islands, located about 740 kilometers south of Taiwan, are experiencing smaller-scale evacuations as well. The national weather service reported sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour at the storm's center, with gusts reaching up to 265 kilometers per hour.

The Filipino government has suspended work and classes across Manila and large parts of Luzon as the outer rainbands of the storm begin to affect the region. Authorities have issued warnings about potential power outages, landslides, floods, and hazardous sea conditions. This comes just a day after thousands of Filipinos protested against a growing corruption scandal related to poorly constructed flood control projects.