Nearly two million evacuated as deadly super typhoon strikes China, resulting in dozens of fatalities
The deadly super typhoon Ragasa tore through Taiwan and the Philippines and is now wreaking havoc in Hong Kong and China.
One of the strongest typhoons in years has hit Hong Kong, causing waves taller than lampposts and halting life on the southern Chinese coast.
Super typhoon Ragasa, had already hit Taiwan and the Philippines, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
In Taiwan, 17 people died in a flooded township, and 10 deaths were reported in the Philippines.
The fierce winds woke Hong Kong residents in the early hours, and many went online to describe scenes like a kitchen extractor fan being blown down, and a crane swaying.
Strong winds blew away parts of a pedestrian bridge’s roof and knocked down hundreds of trees across the city.
A vessel crashed into the shore, shattering a row of glass railings along the waterfront, while areas around some rivers and streets were flooded, including cycling lanes and playgrounds.
At several restaurants, furniture was scattered by the winds and more than 60 people were injured.
Nearly 1.9 million people were relocated across Guangdong province, in southern China, with the state broadcaster CCTV reporting the typhoon made landfall along the coast of Hailing Island in Yangjiang city at about 5 pm local time.
Schools, factories, and transit services were suspended in about a dozen cities.
Hong Kong and Macao, a nearby casino hub, canceled schools and flights, with many shops closed. Hundreds of people sought refuge in temporary centers in each city.
Rescue crews deployed inflatable boats to save those who were trapped, while the gambling city’s local electricity supplier suspended its power supply in some flooded, low-lying areas for safety.
Hong Kong’s observatory said Ragasa, with maximum sustained winds near the center of about 120 mph, skirted around 62 miles to the south of the financial hub.
It was forecast to continue moving west or west-northwest at about 14 mph.
The city categorizes cyclones with sustained winds of 115 mph or stronger as super typhoons to make residents extra vigilant about intense storms.
The government previously said the rise in water levels could be similar to those recorded during Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, estimated to have cost the city around 4.6 billion Hong Kong dollars (£440 million).
Violent Typhoon Ragasa and Neoguri from the International @Space_Station. Sept 21, 2025 0437 GMT. Nikon Z9 | 24/50-500mm.
— Jonny Kim (@JonnyKimUSA) September 23, 2025
From orbit, the view is breathtaking, but on the ground, this storm brings real danger and hardship. Thoughts are with everyone in its path, and with the… pic.twitter.com/PESFnPhYIC
Ragasa had already caused deaths and damage in Taiwan and the Philippines after the typhoon took a path between them.
In Taiwan, heavy rain caused a barrier lake in Hualien County to overflow on Tuesday, and torrents of muddy water destroyed a bridge, turning roads in Guangfu township into rivers that carried vehicles and furniture away.
Guangfu has about 8,450 residents, more than half of whom sought safety on higher floors of their homes or on higher ground.
Local authorities said 17 people died and contact was lost with over one hundred others in the township. Taiwan’s Central News Agency said rescuers were going door-to-door to check on these residents.
Separately, 34 people were injured across the self-ruled island.
At least 10 deaths were reported in the Philippines, including seven fishermen who drowned after their boat was battered by huge waves and fierce wind and flipped over on Monday off Santa Ana town in northern Cagayan province. Five other fishermen remained missing, provincial officials said.
Nearly 700,000 people were affected by the onslaught in the main northern Philippine region of Luzon, including 25,000 people who fled to government emergency shelters.
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