The most powerful tropical cyclone recorded globally this year has struck southern China after causing fatalities and widespread damage in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
Super Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in the city of Yangjiang in Guangdong province, bringing destructive winds and torrential rains. The storm had previously caused significant loss of life in Taiwan, where at least 15 people died, primarily due to flooding from a breached barrier lake in Hualien county. Emergency services continue searching for 17 individuals still missing in the aftermath.
In Hong Kong, the storm system generated massive waves that inundated coastal areas, flooding roads and residential properties. The city’s observatory recorded maximum sustained winds near the storm’s center reaching approximately 195 kilometers per hour. At least 90 people required medical treatment for storm-related injuries, while emergency shelters provided refuge for hundreds of displaced residents.
The typhoon’s impact extended to Macau, where gambling establishments were compelled to close their operations as a precautionary measure. Across southern China’s Guangdong province, authorities coordinated the evacuation of more than two million residents from vulnerable areas.
The storm system initially developed over the western Pacific Ocean last week, rapidly intensifying into a Category 5 super typhoon with winds exceeding 260 kilometers per hour before gradually weakening as it approached the mainland.
Regional governments have mobilized comprehensive emergency response efforts, deploying rescue personnel and essential supplies to affected communities. The full extent of the damage and the long-term recovery requirements remain under assessment as the storm continues to move inland.
