Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone this year, has left a trail of destruction across East Asia, killing at least 14 people in Taiwan and lashing South China and Hong Kong with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain.
The death toll in Taiwan rose after a barrier lake in Hualien County burst, sending a wall of water into the township of Guangfu. Authorities confirmed 14 fatalities and reported 124 people missing, with thousands displaced and seeking shelter on higher ground.
Taiwan Devastated by Lake Burst
Triggered by landslides and heavy rainfall, the lake overflowed on Tuesday afternoon, releasing nearly 60 million tonnes of water — equivalent to 36,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Entire villages were flooded, bridges collapsed, and rescue operations are ongoing in the worst-hit areas.
“There are mud and rocks everywhere. Some flooding has subsided but some remains,” said Wang Tse-an, village chief of Dama in Hualien.
Hong Kong Under Siege
Hong Kong issued its highest typhoon warning signal as Ragasa passed just 100 km south of the city. Winds reaching 200 kph (124 mph) uprooted trees, flooded coastal neighborhoods like Heng Fa Chuen, and damaged infrastructure. Over 730 people sought refuge in emergency shelters.
Train services were suspended, roads deserted, and residents taped windows to prevent injuries from shattered glass. Authorities warned of storm surges up to four meters, comparable to Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018.
South China Braces for Landfall
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management expects Ragasa to make landfall between Zhuhai and Zhanjiang in Guangdong province by late Wednesday. Schools and businesses have been ordered to shut down in at least 10 cities, affecting tens of millions of people.
The typhoon earlier swept through the northern Philippines, killing at least two people before intensifying over the South China Sea.