September 24, 2025
Web desk
Typhoon Ragasa, the most powerful storm of 2025, has made landfall in southern China after wreaking havoc across Taiwan and the Philippines. The storm struck near Yangjiang in Guangdong province on Wednesday with sustained winds of around 144 km/h, forcing nearly two million people to evacuate. Hong Kong and Macau were also brought to a standstill, with schools shut, flights cancelled, and streets left eerily empty as towering waves crashed against coastal barriers.
Taiwan bore some of the heaviest losses before the storm crossed the South China Sea. At least 17 people were killed in Hualien County after a barrier lake burst during torrential rains, unleashing devastating floods. More than a dozen others remain missing, while thousands were forced to flee their homes. Premier Cho Jung-tai has ordered an inquiry into why evacuation orders were not fully carried out, as questions mount over disaster preparedness.
Hong Kong’s international airport cancelled nearly 1,000 flights over the last two days, stranding more than 140,000 passengers. The city is now beginning to recover, with flights expected to resume after midnight. In Macau, commercial districts were left underwater, and thousands of residents took shelter in emergency facilities as heavy rains pounded the city.
Before reaching Taiwan and China, Ragasa also battered the Philippines, where at least 10 people died in floods and landslides. Though the typhoon has now weakened to the equivalent of a category 3 hurricane, authorities warn that it still poses serious risks as it moves further inland across southern China. Relief efforts are underway in all affected regions, with rescue teams racing against time to reach survivors.
