SUPER Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest tropical cyclone of the year, swept through Hong Kong on Wednesday, unleashing hurricane-force winds and torrential rains that swamped roads, seafronts and hotels.
The storm arrived just as Taiwan grappled with the deadly aftermath of a barrier lake overflow in Hualien County, which sent a wall of water crashing into a town, killing at least 14 people, according to the island's fire department.
Reuters reported on Wednesday, Ragasa, which had already battered the northern Philippines earlier in the week, continued its destructive path across East Asia, with its outer bands drenching Taiwan since Monday.
Authorities in Hong Kong raised the city’s highest Typhoon Signal No. 10 in the early hours of Wednesday, urging a full shutdown of businesses and transport services.
In the densely populated districts of eastern and southern Hong Kong, waves surged over sea walls, flooding roads and residential areas. Video footage shared on social media showed seawater pouring through the glass doors of the Fullerton Hotel, inundating the lobby.
“Areas which were previously sheltered may become exposed,” the Hong Kong Observatory warned, adding, “seas will be phenomenal with swells.”
The worst may not yet be over. With sustained winds of up to 200 km/h (124 mph), Ragasa is forecast to maintain its status as a super typhoon as it barrels toward China’s Guangdong Province. The storm is expected to make landfall around midday, threatening more than 125 million people in a region that includes major cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Foshan.
In anticipation, authorities in Guangdong have evacuated over 770,000 residents, suspended schools and halted high-speed rail and flights. China’s marine agency issued its highest ‘red’ wave warning, forecasting storm surges of up to 2.8 metres (9 feet). Emergency supplies, including tents, beds and lighting equipment, have been dispatched across the province.
In Hong Kong, over 700 flights were cancelled, while 49 government-run shelters were opened, with 727 people seeking refuge. Streets in Tseung Kwan O, a district built on reclaimed land, were submerged. Outlying islands including Lantau, which hosts the city’s main airport, saw extensive beach and coastal flooding.
The storm triggered panic buying earlier this week, with supermarket shelves emptied as residents feared a two-day shutdown. Many taped windows and reinforced their homes in anticipation of damage.
Despite the severity of the storm, Hong Kong’s stock exchange remained open, following a recent change in policy allowing trading to continue regardless of weather conditions.
In nearby Macau, authorities also issued the maximum typhoon signal. Casinos shuttered operations from Tuesday evening, with hotel guests confined to their buildings. Social media users shared footage of resorts sealing entrances to prevent water ingress.
Elsewhere, tragedy struck on Hong Kong’s waterfront, where a woman and her five-year-old son were swept into the sea while watching the waves. Both were rescued and remain in intensive care, according to the *South China Morning Post*.
With the typhoon’s core still offshore, the region remains on high alert as storm surges and extreme winds continue to pose serious threats to life and infrastructure. - September 24, 2025
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