China’s southern Guangdong Province has undertaken a massive evacuation, moving more than one million residents to safety as Typhoon Ragasa continues its destructive journey. The formidable storm has already wreaked havoc across the Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Chinese state media confirms that over 38,000 firefighters and 400 emergency teams are on high alert, ready to respond as Guangdong braces for a direct impact from Ragasa, which has been identified as the most powerful storm globally this year.
After its initial landfall in the Philippines on Monday, Typhoon Ragasa veered back out to sea before slamming into Hong Kong early Wednesday. The city experienced significant flooding in coastal areas, accompanied by torrential rain and powerful winds that brought down numerous trees. The typhoon is forecasted to continue its westward trajectory, with a second landfall expected in Guangdong later on Wednesday.
An image captures the dramatic scene of waves relentlessly crashing against the Heng Fa Chuen waterfront in Hong Kong, underscoring the storm’s raw power.
Another photo reveals a desolate beach in Shenzhen, southern China, on Wednesday, likely deserted in anticipation of the typhoon’s arrival.
Taiwan bore the brunt of the typhoon on Tuesday, with its southern regions experiencing severe impact. The storm tragically claimed 14 lives and left 118 people missing as of Wednesday morning.
Taiwan’s emergency department reported Tuesday evening that raging floodwaters had caused a bridge to collapse. All reported fatalities and missing persons were from a single area in Hualien County, in the east. In response to the widespread threat, over 8,000 people were evacuated across the island.
Disturbing videos circulated on social media, depicting residents trapped in their homes awaiting rescue and vehicles being swept away by murky floodwaters. One particularly harrowing clip showed a woman desperately clinging to a utility pole in a market, struggling against chest-high water. Authorities later confirmed her safe rescue.
A poignant image shows the damaged remains of a bridge over Matai’an Creek in Hualien, Taiwan, after a barrier lake burst on Wednesday.
In Hualien, Taiwan, soldiers are seen distributing essential supplies from an armored vehicle after Typhoon Ragasa made landfall on Wednesday, highlighting the ongoing relief efforts.
Air travel in the region has been severely disrupted, with at least 600 flights from major carriers like Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines canceled at Hong Kong International Airport. Despite the cancellations, airport officials stated that runways remained operational, and some restaurants and shops would stay open around the clock to assist stranded passengers. The airport authority confirmed handling 600 flights on Tuesday and reported no passengers remaining in restricted areas.
Hong Kong authorities reported 62 injuries and hundreds of fallen trees by Wednesday afternoon, reflecting the storm’s impact on the city.
Images from the airport depict weary passengers resting at Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday, their travel plans upended by the typhoon.
A monitor at Hong Kong International Airport starkly displays a list of canceled flights on Tuesday, a clear indication of the storm’s far-reaching consequences.
Online videos documented the force of the surging seawater, which inundated businesses in Hong Kong, including the lobby of the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel. The powerful waves shattered the hotel’s glass doors, knocking a man off his feet and pushing him across the lobby.
Anna Cholewka, a local restaurateur, awoke Wednesday to alarming CCTV footage of seawater crashing through her French bistro’s doors in Tseung Kwan O, flipping tables and chairs. The storm surge had breached a sea wall, flooding the promenade where she and her husband, Mark Cholewka, operate Bistro La Baie. The couple is now uncertain when they can reopen, with much of their restaurant’s furniture having floated away.
“I cried,” expressed Ms. Cholewka, who poured her heart into opening Bistro La Baie nearly three years ago. “We put a lot of thought into this place to serve the food that we love to this community. It’s just gone now. It hurts.”
Shun Chi-ming, former director of the Hong Kong Observatory, explained in a Wednesday phone interview that typhoons in the Western Pacific are intensifying due to rising sea and atmospheric temperatures, a direct consequence of climate change. This warming trend leads to heavier rainfall when typhoons make landfall.
Although Ragasa ultimately passed Hong Kong by 75 miles, sparing the city from more catastrophic damage, Mr. Shun anticipates a more severe impact on mainland China.
“For western Guangdong, there are places where they will get the full force of the typhoon,” Mr. Shun warned.
Hong Kong had diligently prepared for the worst-case scenario. The city’s Disneyland resort closed its doors, horse races were canceled, and schools suspended classes. Supermarket shelves were emptied as residents stockpiled food, and many homes saw windows taped for reinforcement. Maintenance crews proactively installed flood barriers, covered outdoor escalators, and secured public sculptures.
A somber photograph captures a Hong Kong restaurant damaged by Typhoon Ragasa on Wednesday, showing the extent of the destruction.
In another scene from Hong Kong on Wednesday, firefighters are diligently securing a loose cable, damaged by Typhoon Ragasa, highlighting the immediate dangers and recovery efforts.
The vibrant gambling hub of Macau also took precautionary measures, announcing the temporary closure of its casinos from Tuesday evening.
Following its impact on China, the typhoon is projected to continue its westward progression, potentially reaching Vietnam and Laos later in the week.
Even areas touched by the typhoon days ago are still grappling with its devastating aftermath.
Philippines authorities reported on Wednesday that 40,000 people remain in evacuation centers. The national council confirmed four deaths, including one person tragically crushed by a landslide, 11 injured, and one person still missing. Approximately 34 bridges, primarily on Luzon Island, sustained damage and are currently impassable.