Typhoon Ragasa Slams China After Deadly Taiwan Floods

A powerful storm, Typhoon Ragasa, has slammed into southern China after causing deadly destruction in Taiwan. The typhoon, one of the strongest storms of the year, has left at least 14 people dead and 124 missing in Taiwan following massive floods and landslides.

The storm’s arrival on the southern Chinese coast has forced the evacuation of more than a million residents in Guangdong province, with authorities relocating over 10,000 vessels to safety. Cities including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Macau have shut down schools, businesses, and public transportation as hurricane-force winds reach speeds of up to 168 kilometers per hour.

In Taiwan, devastation has been severe. A lake in Hualien County burst its banks, unleashing massive floods that killed at least a dozen people. Rescue operations are ongoing, with hundreds of firefighters and volunteers searching for the missing.

Videos circulating online show waves crashing into Hong Kong’s harbor, while storm surges have shattered glass doors in coastal hotels, sweeping people off their feet. The Hong Kong Observatory has warned that surges could rise to four meters, posing a severe risk to low-lying areas.

Authorities are taking extensive precautions. More than 38,000 firefighters are on standby in southern China, while advanced drainage infrastructure in Hong Kong is expected to reduce potential flooding damage. Despite this preparedness, millions remain at risk as the storm continues to move inland.

Ragasa, also known as Typhoon Nando, first struck the Philippines as a Category 5 storm, bringing destruction to remote islands before weakening slightly on its path toward Taiwan and China. Four deaths have been reported in the Philippines, though numbers are still being verified.

This year has been unusually stormy in East Asia. Hong Kong normally experiences six typhoons annually, but Ragasa marks the ninth so far in 2025, highlighting the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

While Ragasa weakens over land, forecasters are already monitoring another system. A new storm, Typhoon Opong, is forming over the Philippines, raising fresh concerns about further devastation in the region.

As Ragasa continues its path, millions across southern China and Taiwan remain on high alert, bracing for potential aftershocks of one of the deadliest storms of the year.