Typhoon Rajasa reaches its peak and continues moving towards Hong Kong.

Arab Weather - After developing into a devastating Category 5 hurricane, Tropical Cyclone Rajasa continues to advance, threatening Hong Kong with torrential rains and strong winds.

Hong Kong closes airport for 36 hours in anticipation of Typhoon Rajasa

Hong Kong is bracing for Typhoon Rajasa, which is expected to cause widespread damage and severe disruption as it approaches the northeastern coast of the Philippines, bringing strong winds that will uproot trees.

Hong Kong International Airport is facing significant disruption due to the storm, with Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. expected to cancel more than 500 flights. Rajasa is likely to be the costliest typhoon to affect the city since Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018.

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Urgent: In less than 24 hours, Cyclone Rajasa will develop into a devastating Category 5 and threaten these countries.

Typhoon Rajasa, known locally as Nando in the Philippines, rapidly developed over the Philippine Sea, transforming into a super typhoon with sustained winds exceeding 267 km/h (167 mph), equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane.

The hurricane affects millions of people.

Tens of millions are expected to be affected by the typhoon, which is likely to hit or pass near the Batanes and Babuyan islands north of Luzon later Monday, before heading towards major cities such as Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Guangdong province in southern China.

See the hurricane via satellite images here.

As of Monday morning, Typhoon Rajasa was centered just over 1,000 kilometers east-southeast of Hong Kong, moving west at about 23 km/h.

The Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government said in a statement that more than 10,000 people were evacuated from northern and central Luzon in anticipation of the typhoon.