Hong Kong: Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world's most powerful tropical cyclone this year, lashed Hong Kong with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain on Wednesday as the city shut down and more than 700 flights were cancelled.

Roads were deserted as authorities instructed people to stay indoors and surging waves topped over parts of the Asian financial hub's eastern and southern shoreline.

\"Areas which were previously sheltered may become exposed...seas will be phenomenal with swells,\" the observatory said.

Ragasa, packing winds of up to 200 kph (124 mph), will be closest to the city in the next few hours, skirting around 100 km (60 miles) south of the densely populated territory.

It is expected to maintain super typhoon intensity as it edges closer to the coast of China's Guangdong

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