Ragasa Weakens as It Tracks Toward Vietnam After Flooding Across Southern China
Tropical Storm Ragasa delivers heavy rains and destructive winds to Guangdong, prompting mass evacuations and power outages, with deaths reported in Taiwan and the Philippines as it moves west toward Southeast Asia.
Ragasa, once a super-typhoon, weakened as it moved west along the southern Chinese coast toward Vietnam on Thursday after flooding streets and homes in Guangdong and causing fatalities in Taiwan and the Philippines. The storm reached its peak Monday with maximum sustained winds of 265 kph (165 mph), marking it as the strongest cyclone of the year, before winds had weakened to about 65 kph (40 mph) by Thursday morning. Forecasters said Ragasa was expected to dissipate eventually, though heavy rain could persist in parts of Southeast Asia.
In Guangdong province, the impact was severe and widespread. In the city of Yangjiang, the floodwaters left street-level scenes dominated by submerged roadways and trees, with branches floating amid the water. Local officials said more than 50,000 trees were toppled across the city, and wind-blown signs were down across major roads. In Zhuhai, rivers turned streets into channels, and rescuers used inflatable boats to reach residents stranded on higher floors or among flooded neighborhoods. The Southern Metropolis Daily reported that water inundated some first-floor homes in older districts, highlighting the depth of the flooding. Across Guangdong, more than 56,000 households lost power by Wednesday night as crews worked to restore electricity. In the Guangxi region to the west, authorities closed schools and businesses and halted some tourism activities in several cities. Officials said more than 2 million people had been relocated across Guangdong in the lead-up to Ragasa's arrival as the storm moved inland.
Across the broader Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, travel and daily activities were disrupted. In Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, many of the wind- and rain-related restrictions that had been in place earlier in the week were easing as conditions improved. About 1,000 flights were canceled or rescheduled in Hong Kong, affecting roughly 140,000 passengers. By Thursday, airport services and most businesses were returning to normal, though crews continued to clear fallen trees and debris in the northern part of the city. In the same period, authorities reported that more than 1,200 trees were felled across Hong Kong, and about 100 people were hospitalized with injuries linked to the storm.
In Taiwan, authorities revised the death toll from Ragasa downward on Thursday, updating the figure from 17 to 14 as officials reviewed records. The fatalities occurred in eastern Hualien County, where heavy rain caused a barrier lake to overflow, sending torrents into Guangfu township. Rivers swept through roads, destroying a bridge and turning some streets into swift channels that carried vehicles and debris. Dozens of people remained out of contact in the area, and dozens more were injured across the island as rescuers continued to search for missing individuals.
The Philippines confirmed at least 11 fatalities linked to Ragasa, including seven fishermen who drowned when their boat overturned in northern Cagayan province on Monday. Two fishermen remained missing on Thursday. Authorities warned that another tropical cyclone, operating under the local name Opong and known elsewhere as Bualoi, was approaching the Philippines from the Pacific. It was forecast to strike the east-central Philippines on Friday and could strengthen into a typhoon, with maximum sustained winds near or above 110 kph (68 mph) and higher gusts, according to government forecasters.
Vietnam’s government reacted swiftly as Ragasa tracked toward its coastline. Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính ordered ministries and local authorities to protect critical infrastructure such as dams and hospitals, ensure the security of fishing vessels and coastal assets, and prepare evacuation and search-and-rescue operations if needed. The government also directed agencies to limit disruptions to essential services and to monitor for potential flooding and landslides as rainfall remained a concern along the central and southern parts of the country. Vietnamese authorities had already prepared response measures and mobilized authorities at the provincial level to respond to potential flood and wind hazards as Ragasa moved in.
In the broader regional context, meteorologists cautioned that Ragasa’s track could continue to generate heavy rainfall and gusty winds even as the storm weakens. Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and parts of Southeast Asia have been on alert for rain-induced flooding and landslides as the system’s moisture interacts with local terrain. Officials stressed the importance of staying connected to official forecasts and following evacuation orders if issued, particularly in low-lying coastal areas and near mountainous zones that are prone to flash floods.
As Ragasa traversed the western reaches of the South China Sea and pressed toward the Vietnamese coast, residents and authorities faced a dual challenge: immediate safety during the storm’s lingering rain and wind, and the longer-term task of repairing damaged infrastructure and restoring power and services. The situation highlighted the resilience and responsiveness of local emergency management agencies as they coordinated with national authorities to mitigate risks, support affected communities, and ensure that relief and assistance could reach those who needed it most in the days ahead.