Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
At least 17 killed in Taiwan, massive evacuations in southern China, and coastal areas brace against powerful storm surge
Typhoon Ragasa, one of the most intense storms of 2025, has battered the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and southern China, leaving dead, displaced populations, and widespread infrastructure damage in its wake.
The cyclone made landfall in Guangdong province on September 24 after crossing the South China Sea and disrupting dozens of regions along its path.
In Taiwan’s Hualien County, a natural barrier lake—formed earlier this year after landslides blocked a river—burst during torrential rains, unleashing catastrophic flooding that claimed at least 15 to 17 lives and displaced many more.
The sudden rush of water overwhelmed local defences, as towns like Guangfu found themselves submerged under a surge reportedly equivalent to millions of cubic metres released at once.
The disaster has triggered an official inquiry into evacuation procedures and emergency preparedness.
As Ragasa entered Chinese waters, nearly 1.9 million residents in Guangdong were evacuated ahead of landfall.
The storm struck Hailing Island in Yangjiang City with sustained winds of 144 km/h and gusts up to 241 km/h, inflicting structural damage, flooding, and coastal inundation.
In Hong Kong, the storm skirted the coastline—forcing signal alerts, transport shutdowns and resulting in around 90 reported injuries as strong waves battered waterfront zones.
Ragasa’s destructive path reflects its exceptional intensity.
Meteorological data show the storm maintained violent strength and even tied records for peak wind gusts in the region.
Its slow movement over land, combined with heavy rain bands and storm surge risk, has left affected areas vulnerable to continued flooding, landslides, and infrastructure strain.
Beyond immediate rescue and relief, Ragasa’s journey underscores deeper challenges: the vulnerability of densely populated and low-lying coastal zones; the risks posed by secondary hazards like barrier lake collapses; and the growing impact of extreme weather patterns in an era of shifting climate dynamics.
As recovery begins, regional governments face the urgent need to reinforce flood defences, upgrade early warning systems, and reconsider land-use plans in the face of storms that are only growing in power and unpredictability.
The cyclone made landfall in Guangdong province on September 24 after crossing the South China Sea and disrupting dozens of regions along its path.
In Taiwan’s Hualien County, a natural barrier lake—formed earlier this year after landslides blocked a river—burst during torrential rains, unleashing catastrophic flooding that claimed at least 15 to 17 lives and displaced many more.
The sudden rush of water overwhelmed local defences, as towns like Guangfu found themselves submerged under a surge reportedly equivalent to millions of cubic metres released at once.
The disaster has triggered an official inquiry into evacuation procedures and emergency preparedness.
As Ragasa entered Chinese waters, nearly 1.9 million residents in Guangdong were evacuated ahead of landfall.
The storm struck Hailing Island in Yangjiang City with sustained winds of 144 km/h and gusts up to 241 km/h, inflicting structural damage, flooding, and coastal inundation.
In Hong Kong, the storm skirted the coastline—forcing signal alerts, transport shutdowns and resulting in around 90 reported injuries as strong waves battered waterfront zones.
Ragasa’s destructive path reflects its exceptional intensity.
Meteorological data show the storm maintained violent strength and even tied records for peak wind gusts in the region.
Its slow movement over land, combined with heavy rain bands and storm surge risk, has left affected areas vulnerable to continued flooding, landslides, and infrastructure strain.
Beyond immediate rescue and relief, Ragasa’s journey underscores deeper challenges: the vulnerability of densely populated and low-lying coastal zones; the risks posed by secondary hazards like barrier lake collapses; and the growing impact of extreme weather patterns in an era of shifting climate dynamics.
As recovery begins, regional governments face the urgent need to reinforce flood defences, upgrade early warning systems, and reconsider land-use plans in the face of storms that are only growing in power and unpredictability.
