Super Typhoon Ragasa Hits Taiwan Hong Kong and Guangdong
Super Typhoon Ragasa Batters Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southern China
A barrier lake in Taiwan’s eastern Hualien County overflowed on Wednesday, sending a wall of water into a nearby town, as heavy rains from Super Typhoon Ragasa lashed the island, the Taiwan fire department reported.
Since Monday, Taiwan has been under the outer rim of Ragasa, which has unleashed torrential rain and caused widespread flooding.
In Hong Kong, massive waves slammed the city’s eastern and southern coastlines, submerging roads and damaging residential areas. At the Fullerton Hotel in the southern part of the island, social media videos showed seawater pouring through glass doors and flooding the lobby. Calls to the hotel went unanswered on Wednesday.
In Tseung Kwan O, a densely populated area built largely on reclaimed land, waves submerged sections of the waterfront promenade near towering residential blocks. Outlying islands, including Lantau—home to Hong Kong International Airport—also faced flooding, with beaches and vegetation underwater.
The Hong Kong Observatory warned, “Areas which were previously sheltered may become exposed… seas will be phenomenal with swells.” Ragasa, with winds reaching 200 kph (124 mph), is expected to pass about 100 km (60 miles) south of the city in the coming hours.
Typhoon Maintains Super Typhoon Strength
Ragasa is forecast to maintain super typhoon intensity as it approaches China’s Guangdong province, home to over 125 million people, with landfall expected around midday local time (0400 GMT). The storm previously struck northern Philippines on Monday and Taiwan on Tuesday.
The approaching typhoon triggered panic buying in Hong Kong this week, with residents queuing for hours as supermarket shelves emptied. Many taped windows in a bid to prevent injuries from shattered glass. Early Wednesday, Hong Kong raised its Typhoon Signal No. 10, the highest warning level, prompting business closures and suspension of transport services. The city also issued an Amber Rainstorm Signal as heavy rains continued.
Authorities warned that rising sea levels could rival those seen during Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, both of which caused billions in damage. The observatory said water levels could reach around four metres (13 feet) by noon (0400 GMT).
Tragically, a woman and her five-year-old son were swept into the ocean on Tuesday while watching the typhoon from the waterfront. They were rescued and are now in intensive care. The government has opened 49 temporary shelters, housing 727 people so far. Despite the storm, Hong Kong’s Stock Exchange remains open, following a policy change last year to continue trading in extreme weather.
Impact Extends to Macau and Guangdong
In Macau, authorities issued the No. 10 warning early Wednesday, forcing casinos to close their gaming floors since Tuesday evening. Guests have been unable to leave some resorts, and videos circulated online showing doors being sealed against the storm.
In Guangdong, over 770,000 people have been evacuated, according to CCTV. Schools and transport services, including high-speed rail, have been suspended, and flights were cancelled at major airports in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. China’s marine authority issued its first ‘red’ wave warning of the year, predicting storm surges up to 2.8 metres (9 feet).
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, and Dongguan—home to roughly 50 million residents—are directly in Ragasa’s path. Tens of thousands of tents, folding beds, emergency lighting, and other rescue supplies have been dispatched by the emergency management ministry.
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