Hong Kong: Super Typhoon Ragasa, one of the fiercest storms to strike East Asia in recent years, has left a trail of destruction across Taiwan before sweeping into Hong Kong and China’s southern coast. In Taiwan’s Hualien County, tragedy struck as torrential rains caused barrier lakes to burst, unleashing flash floods that swallowed entire communities. Authorities confirmed at least 17 fatalities and reported an equal number missing. Survivors recounted how the water surged through towns in minutes, giving many families no chance to escape. Rescue operations remain underway, though rugged terrain and landslides are hampering efforts.
By the time Ragasa reached Hong Kong, it carried hurricane-force winds and pounding rain. Towering waves surged into the city’s waterfront, breaching sea walls and flooding streets. One widely shared video captured seawater breaking into the lobby of the Fullerton Hotel, symbolizing the storm’s brute force. Public transport was paralyzed, and the Hong Kong Hospital Authority reported around 90 storm-related injuries. The government opened 50 emergency shelters, housing nearly 900 evacuees. While the storm warning level was later downgraded, Ragasa’s impact left parts of the city battered and waterlogged.
Crossing into Guangdong province, Ragasa’s power remained formidable. China’s marine authorities issued their highest red wave warning, predicting storm surges as high as 2.8 meters. In anticipation, authorities evacuated more than two million residents across the region. Cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, and Dongguan economic engines of southern China are directly in the storm’s path. Local businesses fortified storefronts with trucks and barricades in a desperate attempt to limit damage. Emergency crews were dispatched with tents, lighting equipment, and medical supplies to support the displaced population.
Meteorologists say Ragasa’s ferocity is not an isolated phenomenon but a warning signal of climate change’s growing toll on Asia. Exceptionally warm sea temperatures in the Pacific have been linked to the storm’s rapid intensification. Benjamin Horton, dean of Hong Kong’s School of Energy and Environment, cautioned that such events may soon become the “new normal.” The typhoon season across Asia this year has already been marked by unusual severity, heightening concerns about disaster preparedness and resilience.
As Ragasa continues its inland march through southern China, attention now shifts to rebuilding and recovery. Taiwan faces questions over why flood alerts failed to prevent the high death toll, while Hong Kong scrambles to restore disrupted infrastructure. In Guangdong, emergency teams are racing against time to minimize further casualties. With homes destroyed, businesses shuttered, and transport networks crippled, millions across East Asia are left grappling with the storm’s aftermath and the sobering reality that more such disasters may lie ahead.