Typhoon Ragasa Causes Widespread Devastation Across East Asia
Typhoon Ragasa, the most powerful storm to hit the northwestern Pacific this year, has claimed at least 25 lives in Taiwan and the Philippines, uprooted nearly two million people in southern China, and left Hong Kong and Macao grappling with severe storm damage and flooding, reports 24brussels.
The typhoon made landfall on Wednesday in Hailing Island, Guangdong province, packing winds of 144 kph (89 mph), according to state broadcaster CCTV. The storm had previously passed about 100 kilometers south of Hong Kong, where sustained winds reached up to 195 kph (120 mph). In Chuandao town, peak gusts topped 241 kph (150 mph), marking the strongest winds recorded in Jiangmen city.
In response to the disaster, authorities in Guangdong evacuated approximately 1.9 million individuals. Coastal areas, particularly in Zhuhai, experienced turbulent waves, while torrential rain led to widespread uprooting of trees and debris. Schools, factories, and various transport services were halted across numerous cities.
Casualties in Taiwan were particularly severe, with local officials reporting that at least 14 individuals perished after a decades-old lake barrier burst. This tragic event was triggered by incessant rainfall from Typhoon Ragasa, which also caused significant flooding in Hualien, sweeping a bridge away and transforming roads into rivers. Rescue teams managed to contact over 100 individuals previously unreachable and are checking on 17 remaining residents.
The situation was similarly dire in the northern Philippines, where at least 10 fatalities were confirmed, including seven fishermen whose boat capsized off the coast of Santa Ana in Cagayan province. Nearly 700,000 people were affected nationwide, with about 25,000 individuals taking refuge in government shelters.
In Hong Kong, Ragasa’s powerful winds caused considerable damage by tearing apart part of a pedestrian bridge, toppling trees, and driving a vessel ashore, which shattered waterfront glass railings. Floodwaters inundated walking paths, resulting in injuries to more than 80 individuals. Videos circulated online showing water breaching a hotel lobby, damaging its exterior while staff attempted to clear debris.
Macao also declared flight and school suspensions as hundreds sought shelter in emergency facilities. Flooded streets necessitated the use of inflatable boats by rescue teams, and power was cut in low-lying neighborhoods to ensure safety.
The Hong Kong Observatory deemed Ragasa the strongest cyclone in the region this year and noted it is among the two most intense storms in the South China Sea since records began in 1950, alongside Typhoons Saola in 2023 and Yagi in 2024.
As Ragasa continues its path westward, communities throughout East Asia face the daunting challenge of recovery amid increasingly frequent and intense storms, highlighting the ongoing vulnerabilities of coastal populations in the region.
