Flood-prevention measures are in place for the potential threats posed by Super Typhoon Ragasa over the next few days, according to several government departments.

Officials from the Drainage Services, Civil Engineering and Development and Home Affairs departments said they have deployed resources at 11 low-lying areas across the city based on the observatory’s forecasts.

The weather watchdog predicted that the storm would cause water levels to reach up to four metres above chart datum, the vertical reference level for all depths and tidal heights for use in navigation and other marine activities, and that they might reach five metres at Tolo Harbour.

The Civil Engineering and Development Department said most of the 11 areas are at risk of flooding of up to one metre, with Kar Wo Lei in Tuen Mun and some bicycle lanes at Tai Po Market facing more severe conditions of up to 1.2 and 1.5 metres respectively.

As such, the department has fortified those locations with flood barriers, sandbags and temporary water pumping machines.

The Drainage Services Department said it has also stepped up measures to battle the storm, which will be closest to the city on Wednesday.

“For this typhoon, we have increased the number of emergency teams from 180 previously to 200… to tackle flooding incidents happening all over Hong Kong,” said its director, Ringo Mok.

“This time, [we will] provide over 40,000 sandbags to residents and any residents in need, which is three times more than before,” he added.

Mok said the department will also deploy a total of 10 water pumping robots at locations facing high flooding risks, with six of them already in place and the rest set to arrive on Tuesday morning and be ready for immediate use.

The Home Affairs Department, for its part, has mobilised district council members and care teams to visit residents in those areas and remind them to make preparations for the storm, or to stay in temporary shelters.

“Our department will start operating our shelters as early as tomorrow, from 8am onwards, to allow those needy residents to stay,” said deputy director Belinda Wong.

“We will continue to monitor the situation, so if any residents need to stay in our shelters early, we will operate them as early as [Monday],” she added.