Typhoon Ragasa — dubbed the “King of Storms” by China’s meteorological agency — has left a trail of destruction across East Asia after days of unrelenting fury. The storm, which peaked at winds of 260km/h (162mph), is the world’s most powerful storm this year.
It has battered Taiwan with catastrophic flooding, skirted Hong Kong with ferocious gusts, and slammed into southern China with waves and winds so strong that nearly two million people were forced from their homes.
Taiwan: A Tragedy Far Worse Than Expected
The island of Taiwan has borne some of the worst consequences of Ragasa. On Tuesday, a barrier lake in Hualien county burst after weeks of pressure from torrential rains. The breach released an estimated 15.4 million tonnes of water — the equivalent of 6,000 Olympic swimming pools — in what geologists described as a “tsunami from the mountains.”
The torrent swept through Guangfu Township, washing away bridges, flooding entire villages, and swallowing vehicles and shops. At least 17 people were confirmed dead, with more missing, making this one of Taiwan’s deadliest flood disasters in recent years.
Premier Cho Jung-Tai, visibly shaken, vowed accountability:
“We must investigate why evacuation orders were not carried out in the areas we had asked for, which led to such a tragedy. This is not about assigning blame, but about uncovering the truth.”
On the ground, survivors struggled to find words. Awa, a 42-year-old bookseller from Guangfu, described a community transformed overnight:
“I’m still in shock. We go to these places all the time, but everything was destroyed yesterday. It’s unimaginable.”
Rescue teams continue to comb through thick mud and debris, going door-to-door in search of missing residents. Indigenous Amis families like Awa’s are among those sheltering in evacuation centres, while soldiers work to restore some sense of order in a region still in chaos.
Hong Kong: The Storm Skirts but Leaves Scars
Although Ragasa did not make direct landfall in Hong Kong, the city felt the storm’s outer edge with devastating effect. The Observatory issued its highest-level warning — a rare level 10 signal — urging residents to stay indoors.
Hospitals reported at least 90 people injured as fierce winds shattered windows, toppled scaffolding, and ripped through coastal hotels. Flights were grounded, schools and businesses shuttered, and normal operations only began to resume by Thursday.
Southern China: Evacuations on a Massive Scale
By Wednesday evening, Ragasa made landfall on Hailing Island, part of Guangdong province, striking at 17:00 local time (9:00 GMT) with sustained winds of 144km/h and gusts surpassing 240km/h in Taishan county.
Nearly two million people had already been evacuated ahead of the storm. Cities including Zhuhai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou braced for seawater intrusion and torrential rains. Police patrolled Zhuhai with megaphones, warning residents to remain indoors, while red alerts were issued for landslides in mountainous areas.
State media reported widespread infrastructure damage, though casualty figures remained limited compared with Taiwan. Still, the sheer scale of displacements underscored the magnitude of the challenge facing Chinese authorities.
Philippines: The Storm’s First Victims
Earlier in the week, Ragasa tore across the remote northern islands of the Philippines, leaving at least eight people dead. Floods and landslides displaced thousands, foreshadowing the havoc the storm would wreak further north.
The Science of Destruction
At its peak, Ragasa’s winds rivaled the strongest Category 5 hurricanes recorded anywhere in the world. Scientists attribute such supercharged storms to warming ocean waters, which provide the energy cyclones need to intensify. While Ragasa has since weakened to a “severe” typhoon, meteorologists caution that torrential rains will linger for days, raising the risk of more floods and landslides across East Asia.
Human Resilience Amid Ruin
In every city and village touched by Ragasa, human resilience is now being tested. Taiwanese families sift through wreckage for photographs, Hong Kongers patch shattered windows, and Chinese evacuees wait for word on when they can return home.
The storm’s fury has left scars across three countries, but it has also raised pressing questions about disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, and the human cost of delayed evacuations. Ragasa may move on, but the recovery — both material and emotional — will take months, if not years.
