In Taiwan, 14 people were killed, many are missing, 18 injured and hundreds trapped as a result of Super Typhoon Ragasa, Xinhua reported.
Wind speeds of 212km per hour were recorded in the city of Zhuhai.
Around 11am, the National Meteorological Centre forecast that Ragasa would weaken in the coming hours because of the influence of “dry air intrusion” and “terrain effects”, according to the Guangzhou Broadcasting Network.
The National Meteorological Centre said that in addition to high winds, rain between 25cm to 45cm (9 to 17 inches) and waves as high as 7 metres (23 feet) were expected.
The typhoon was forecast to make landfall between Taishan and Xuwen county in western Guangdong on Wednesday afternoon or evening, and heavy rainfall and wind would continue through Thursday, according to Guangdong’s weather forecaster.
More than 371,000 people have been evacuated across the province while helicopters and drones, 23 ships and 38,000 firefighters remain on standby.
Southern China braces for Super Typhoon Ragasa
Southern China braces for Super Typhoon Ragasa
In Guangdong, more than 10 cities announced schools, businesses, markets and transport closures, affecting tens of millions of people.
By midday on Tuesday, the southern tech hub of Shenzhen had cancelled 210 departing flights and 319 incoming flights. All buses, taxis, subways and highways were closed by Tuesday evening.
Residents have been stockpiling food, water and even portable phone batteries for the past two days. Businesses have taped their windows, tied down rubbish bins and outdoor chairs, while local governments trimmed trees and checked underground passageways, construction sites and mountainous regions for safety hazards.
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