Super typhoon Ragasa leaves at least 10 dead, over 100 missing in Taiwan
File photo: Severe weather has claimed more than ten lives (Getty Images)
On the island of Taiwan, super typhoon Ragasa has killed 14 people and left more than 120 missing, as the storm moves toward the coast of mainland China, according to The Guardian.
On Tuesday, the main impact of the storm hit Taiwan. In a sparsely populated eastern district, a barrier lake formed by earlier landslides overflowed after heavy rain, sending a wall of water into the village of Guangfu.
Floodwaters swept away a large road bridge across the river, while the village of Dama, home to about 1,000 people, was inundated, leaving many residents still trapped.
As of 7 AM local time Wednesday, 14 people had been confirmed dead and 18 injured, according to Hualien County government spokesperson Lee Kuan-ting. He said that on Tuesday evening, the National Fire Agency reported 30 missing, and search teams were still working. In Hualien County, 124 people remained unaccounted for.
The storm also brought down trees, tore roofs from buildings, and claimed at least two lives as it swept across northern Philippines, where thousands of people sought shelter in schools and evacuation centers.
Threat to China
Super typhoon Ragasa has been battering Taiwan since Monday, but its trajectory shifted toward China’s southern coast. Hong Kong’s weather service reported sustained maximum winds of 195 km/h near the storm’s center as it moved west across the South China Sea.
On Wednesday, Hong Kong and parts of southern China were on high alert as Ragasa approached with powerful winds and heavy rains, forcing Chinese authorities to close schools and businesses in at least 10 cities. Classes were suspended in Hong Kong on Tuesday and Wednesday, though the stock exchange remained open under new typhoon rules introduced this year.
According to the airport’s website, there were no departures from Hong Kong after 6 p.m. Tuesday, with more than 500 flights canceled. At 2:40 AM local time on Wednesday, the Hong Kong Observatory issued the highest typhoon warning level, T10, warning it would remain in effect for some time as Ragasa moved closer later in the morning. Officials also cautioned about high waves and storm surges, with water levels expected to rise 4–5 meters above normal in some areas.
Ragasa, meaning "rapid movement" in Filipino, was forecast to make landfall in central and western Guangdong province within 24 hours. In Shenzhen, authorities ordered the evacuation of 400,000 people. Similar measures were being taken across Guangdong, including in the cities of Chaozhou, Zhuhai, Dongguan, and Foshan.
Scientists have warned that global warming is making storms more powerful. In July, typhoon Wipha lashed Hong Kong with winds exceeding 167 km/h, toppling hundreds of trees, canceling more than 400 flights, and halting public transport. In South Korea, at least 10 people were killed and nine went missing amid heavy rains and landslides.
