Classes, production, public transportation and business operations were suspended on Wednesday in parts of Guangdong Province as Severe Typhoon Ragasa approached after battering Hong Kong.

According to the flood, drought and typhoon control headquarters in Zhanjiang City, schools halted classes at around 3pm on Tuesday as a precaution.

Starting at 3pm on Wednesday, work, production, public transport and business operations across Zhanjiang will also be suspended.

Noting that departments handling water, power, gas, communications, medical care and emergency response will remain operational, local authorities urged all other activities that could pose safety risks or endanger personnel to be suspended due to the typhoon.

Typhoon Ragasa entered the South China Sea late on Monday and is forecast to make landfall on Wednesday evening along the coastal areas between Yangjiang and Zhanjiang.

The National Meteorological Center maintained an orange alert, the second highest in China's four-tier color-coded weather warning system, on Wednesday as the typhoon is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds. (Xinhua)