Super Typhoon Ragasa Devastates Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southern China

Taipei / Hong Kong / Guangdong, September 26 — Super Typhoon Ragasa has swept across East Asia, bringing widespread devastation to Taiwan, Hong Kong and southern China before weakening as it approached Vietnam. The powerful storm, with sustained winds of up to 165 mph, has left at least 17 dead in Taiwan and caused severe damage across the region.

In Taiwan, Ragasa passed south of the island, triggering torrential downpours that caused a barrier lake to burst. The resulting floods and landslides destroyed homes, cut off roads and displaced thousands. Emergency teams worked round the clock to rescue stranded residents, but officials warned that the death toll could rise as recovery efforts continue.

The storm then skirted just south of Hong Kong, where winds and relentless rain battered the city for two days. Authorities reported 197 mm of rainfall and about 90 injuries as falling debris and flooding disrupted transport and power supply. Schools and businesses were forced to close, while residents were urged to stay indoors.

Making landfall in China’s Guangdong province with winds of around 150 mph, Ragasa prompted mass evacuations in Shenzhen, Chaozhou, Zhuhai, Dongguan and Foshan. Millions were moved to safety as officials braced for storm surges and rising river levels. Local governments have since begun large-scale cleanup and repair operations, though many areas remain waterlogged.

Meanwhile, meteorologists have raised alarms over another system, Storm Bualoi, forming in the western Pacific. Expected to intensify into a typhoon, it is projected to hit the Philippines’ Luzon island, threatening further flooding and landslides.

Though Ragasa is weakening on its path toward Vietnam, forecasters warn that heavy rains may still cause localized flooding along coastal areas. The storm underscores a surge in extreme weather across the Pacific, testing the resilience of communities in one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions.