Hong Kong International Airport has canceled all landings and departures.

By Zach Vasile

Hong Kong’s major airlines have moved about 80% of their aircraft out of the region as a powerful typhoon bears down on southern China.

According to a report from Reuters, the aircraft were moved earlier this week to airports in Japan, mainland China, Cambodia, Europe, Australia, and elsewhere to avoid potential damage from hurricane-force winds and heavy rain.

The airplanes may also be used for return flights after Typhoon Ragasa, the most intense tropical cyclone of the year so far, passes by.

Reuters confirmed that Cathay Pacific, Greater Bay Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, and HK Express have relocated a portion of their passenger fleets.

Hong Kong International Airport is currently closed as the typhoon moves west across Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. It has already caused extensive flooding and landslides in the Philippines and Taiwan.

Earlier this week, Hong Kong weather experts declared a Signal No. 10 hurricane warning, the most severe in their rating system.

Typhoon Ragasa is expected to continue west through Guangdong and Guangxi before dissipating over northern Vietnam.

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