Help given to residents in low-lying areas as Ragasa puts Hong Kong on high alert

Preparations have been made to evacuate villagers from Tai O, one of Hong Kong’s most flood-prone areas, starting on Monday, while prevention efforts continue in other locations severely affected by earlier storms as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches the city.

District councillors were also advised to remain prepared and assist residents in need as they prepared for Ragasa, which was forecast to approach Hong Kong on Wednesday.

The city is on high alert as images of the two most destructive typhoons, Hato and Mangkhut, resurface to haunt residents, with the weather forecaster warning of threats similar to those caused by the storms in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

District councillor Ho Siu-kei, also chairman of the Tai O rural committee, said that volunteers and committee staff would visit residents of stilt houses on Monday, urging them to pack their belongings and prepare to relocate to temporary shelters.

Ho also said on Sunday that Home Affairs Department officers had contacted them and reminded them to take precautions.

“We are particularly concerned about the elderly residents. From the experience of Hato and Mangkhut, flooding to waist-deep water could occur during high tide,” Ho said. “We believe several dozen of them might need to stay in temporary shelters.”