Typhoon Ragasa, the most formidable storm globally this year, unleashed its fury on Hong Kong early Wednesday. Coastal areas were submerged, and the city was battered by relentless rain and fierce winds that uprooted trees across its landscape.
Hong Kong residents had braced for the worst as the powerful Typhoon Ragasa approached, prompting thousands to evacuate from its path in China. This super typhoon first made landfall in the Philippines on Monday before moving back out to sea.
The destructive typhoon then swept across southern Taiwan on Tuesday, leaving a tragic toll of 14 dead and 124 people unaccounted for by Wednesday morning.
During a Tuesday evening news conference, Taiwan’s emergency department confirmed that raging floodwaters had caused a bridge to collapse. The casualties and missing persons were primarily from Hualien County in the east, with nearly 8,000 individuals evacuated across the island.
Dramatic scenes captured on social media showed people trapped in their homes awaiting rescue, and vehicles being swept away by the murky deluge. One harrowing video depicted a woman desperately clinging to a utility pole in a market, struggling against chest-high water. Authorities later confirmed her safe rescue.
In response to Ragasa’s threat, hundreds of flights were canceled, prompting mass evacuations. Hong Kong’s Disneyland and Macau’s bustling casinos also temporarily shut their doors.
Climate experts warn of an increasing trend in typhoons hitting the region, and officials are bracing for Ragasa to be one of the most severe storms in recent memory.
The Hong Kong Observatory raised its highest storm signal, Level 10, at 2:40 a.m. on Wednesday, urging residents to stay indoors. Forecasters reported that rain was falling at over an inch per hour, and sea levels in eastern Hong Kong had risen more than 12 feet above normal by Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, despite warnings, crowds had gathered along Hong Kong’s coastlines to witness the tumultuous waves. Tragically, a child and their mother were swept into the sea among the spectators and required intensive care after being rescued by police.
Earlier, the Hong Kong Observatory had cautioned that Ragasa could inflict damage on par with Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, which famously shattered hundreds of skyscraper windows. Eric Chan, Hong Kong’s second-highest official, declared Ragasa a “serious threat” to the city.
By Wednesday morning, Hong Kong authorities reported 19 injuries and dozens of fallen trees.
The city’s Disneyland resort closed its gates, horse races were called off, classes were suspended, and office workers were sent home early. Residents emptied supermarket shelves to stock up on essentials and secured their windows with tape. Maintenance crews diligently set up flood barriers, covered outdoor escalators, and anchored sculptures to the ground.
Over 600 flights from major carriers like Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines were canceled at Hong Kong International Airport. While runways remained operational, some airport restaurants and shops stayed open around the clock for stranded travelers. The airport authority confirmed managing 600 flights on Tuesday with no passengers left in restricted areas, though Taiwan saw 270 flight cancellations.
The bustling gambling hub of Macau also announced the temporary closure of its casinos from Tuesday evening.
Following its impact on China, the storm is projected to continue its westward trajectory, potentially reaching Vietnam and Laos later in the week.
The Philippine state weather bureau reported on Monday that the storm had triggered heavy rains and landslides in northern areas, many of which were already grappling with residual flooding from previous storms.