Typhoon Ragasa Batters Taiwan, Hong Kong and China

Published: 24 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Typhoon Ragasa, described by meteorologists as one of the most powerful storms to hit East Asia in recent years, has wreaked havoc across multiple territories, leaving a trail of destruction in its path. After tearing through Taiwan, where at least 15 people were killed and 17 others remain missing, the storm skirted past Hong Kong with ferocious winds and rain before making landfall in southern China’s Guangdong province. Although it has since weakened from a super typhoon to a severe typhoon, the scale of its impact remains immense, with millions affected, widespread property damage, and mounting questions over disaster preparedness.

The heaviest casualties so far have been reported in Taiwan, where floodwaters caused by the bursting of a barrier lake inundated parts of Hualien County. Officials confirmed that all 15 fatalities occurred in Guangfu township, with authorities continuing to search for 17 people still unaccounted for. Premier Cho Jung-tai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim visited the affected areas, pledging government support and promising a full inquiry into the disaster response.

“For the 14 who have tragically passed away, we must investigate why evacuation orders were not carried out in the areas we had asked for, which led to such a tragedy,” the premier said, before the death toll was revised upward. A high school designated as an evacuation centre in Guangfu was itself engulfed by floodwaters, shocking local residents who believed it to be a safe refuge. Survivors described scenes of chaos, with chairs, refrigerators, and vehicles swept away within minutes. One witness compared the speed of the flooding to the 2011 tsunami in Japan, saying, “Within 10 minutes, the water spread to the campus from the street. It felt exactly like what we saw on TV after the earthquake in Japan.”

Authorities revealed that the collapsed barrier lake had formed only two months earlier after a landslide and had survived a weaker typhoon just weeks ago. Officials may have underestimated the strength of Ragasa’s rainfall and its potential to breach the natural dam. Residents of Hualien, a mountainous county known for its Indigenous communities and tourism industry, are now left reeling from the devastation.

Hong Kong avoided a direct landfall, but Ragasa’s proximity was enough to cause serious damage. Public broadcaster RTHK reported at least 62 injuries, more than 400 fallen trees, 15 instances of flooding, and a landslide. In one dramatic scene, a surge of water shattered the glass doors of a hotel, sweeping a worker off his feet.

The Hong Kong Observatory initially issued its highest warning signals but began lowering them as Ragasa moved westward, having weakened slightly after brushing past the territory. Despite the downgrade, gale-force winds and violent rain showers continued to lash the city, accompanied by dangerous swells along the shoreline. Residents described the storm as one of the most intense in recent memory, with streets littered with debris and emergency crews working throughout the day to clear obstructions.

By Wednesday afternoon, Ragasa made official landfall near Yangjiang in China’s Guangdong province, arriving with sustained winds of 144 km/h (89 mph) and even stronger gusts. The Chinese Meteorological Administration warned of torrential rains, landslides, and storm surges, especially along the “dirty side” of the typhoon — the right-hand side of the storm’s trajectory, which tends to be significantly more destructive.

In the coastal city of Jiangmen, authorities reported record-breaking winds of 67 m/s (241 km/h) in Taishan county, surpassing the previous record set by Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. Officials described the situation as “the most crucial and tense phase” of their typhoon response.

Guangdong, home to more than 126 million people and a hub for manufacturing and technology, is now at the centre of the storm. Shenzhen, China’s Silicon Valley, was effectively shut down as schools, businesses, and transportation systems were suspended in anticipation of the typhoon. By late Wednesday afternoon, officials began easing restrictions, lowering the city’s warning level from red to yellow as Ragasa moved westward.

China’s preparedness efforts were evident across Guangdong, where local authorities ordered mass evacuations from high-rise buildings, low-lying coastal zones, and mountain regions at risk of landslides. Police patrols, neighbourhood watches, and community volunteers spread across urban and rural districts, urging residents to stay indoors. Restaurants and shops were shuttered, with local governments stressing that the risks were far from over even as the typhoon weakened.

Zhuhai city, located on the southern coast, braced for a month’s worth of rainfall within hours. Red alerts were issued in mountainous areas where landslides remain a severe threat. The heavy rains were especially concerning as they arrived only days after Typhoon Mitag had saturated the soil in parts of Guangdong, reducing the land’s ability to absorb further downpours.

“This is particularly concerning as our province has just been struck by Typhoon Mitag,” a Guangdong government statement read. “The risk and potential harm of another super strong typhoon will significantly increase, making the defence situation extremely severe and urgent.”

Meteorological forecasts suggest Ragasa will continue moving westward, gradually weakening but still bringing torrential rainfall and flash flooding risks to inland areas. Authorities expect storm surges of 2–3 metres, with some coastal pockets experiencing waves as high as 5 metres. Rainfall totals of up to 450 mm are anticipated across Guangdong and neighbouring provinces.

Further west, Vietnam and Laos are bracing for Ragasa’s remnants later this week, as the typhoon transitions into a severe tropical storm. Both countries have activated disaster response protocols, with schools closed, fishing vessels recalled to port, and emergency shelters prepared.

The devastation caused by Ragasa comes at a time when climate experts are warning that typhoons and tropical cyclones in East Asia are becoming more frequent and more intense due to rising sea surface temperatures and climate change. China’s weather authorities have described Ragasa as the “king of storms,” underscoring the growing challenges faced by nations in the region.

For Taiwan, Hong Kong, and southern China, the storm has underscored vulnerabilities in disaster management and infrastructure resilience. From questions over why evacuation orders were not fully implemented in Guangfu, to concerns about the structural integrity of barrier lakes and storm defences, Ragasa’s trail of destruction will likely trigger policy reviews in the months ahead.

For now, however, the focus remains on rescue operations, emergency relief, and rebuilding shattered communities. Survivors across Taiwan’s Hualien County, Hong Kong’s urban districts, and China’s Guangdong coast are counting their losses while holding on to the hope that the worst is finally over.