Super Typhoon Ragasa has wreaked havoc across parts of East and Southeast Asia, leaving a trail of destruction in Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and southern China. With its violent winds and torrential rains, the storm has claimed at least 14 lives in Taiwan and four in the Philippines, while displacing tens of thousands and disrupting daily life across the region.
In Taiwan, heavy flooding and landslides devastated Guangfu township, where torrents of muddy water swept away vehicles, homes, and even an entire bridge. Streets turned into raging rivers, forcing residents to seek safety on upper floors. Authorities confirmed 14 deaths and reported that contact with over 120 people has been lost as rescue operations continue. Powerful winds also ripped sections off a bridge roof and uprooted hundreds of trees, while boats were tossed ashore, damaging waterfront infrastructure.
Hong Kong endured hurricane-force winds as Ragasa brushed past the city, sending towering waves crashing into coastal areas. A dramatic video captured a massive shelf cloud rolling over Lamma Island, its vast canopy signaling the immense power of the approaching storm. In another clip, raging waters smashed through the entrance of a hotel, flooding the lobby and sweeping away people inside. Emergency workers and staff later struggled to clean up as the storm battered the building’s exterior.
Across Guangdong province in China, officials shut schools, suspended rail services, and advised businesses to remain closed as the storm advanced. Tens of millions of people have been affected, with more than 760 seeking shelter in temporary facilities. Train and flight cancellations caused widespread travel disruptions along the southern coast.
In the Philippines, where the typhoon first made landfall, strong winds and heavy rainfall left at least four dead and caused widespread flooding in low-lying communities.
While Ragasa is now gradually moving away from Hong Kong, forecasters warn that southern China remains at risk from destructive winds, flooding, and storm surges. Recovery efforts are underway across the affected regions, though officials caution that the full scale of damage is still being assessed.