Typhoon Ragasa hits Hong Kong and southern China after deaths in Taiwan and the Philippines

A powerful typhoon has battered Hong Kong and the southern Chinese coast, leaving a wake of damage and prompting mass evacuations as it moved westward after killing dozens in Taiwan and the Philippines.

In Hong Kong, waves taller than lampposts crashed onto promenades, and gusts uprooted trees as the storm tore across the city in the early hours. Authorities reported a range of hazards, from a crane swaying to parts of a pedestrian bridge roof being blown away. A vessel smashed into the shore, shattering glass railings along the waterfront, and water and debris flooded riverside cycling tracks and playgrounds. Officials said more than 60 people were treated for injuries at hospitals, and a hotel lobby video showing waves sweeping through the building circulated widely on social media. The hotel declined immediate comment, while staff were seen cleaning the lobby and nearby exterior damage was evident.

Across Guangdong province, authorities said nearly 1.9 million people had been relocated as the northern section of the southern coastal region braced for landfall. The national weather agency projected the super typhoon would come ashore between Yangjiang and Zhanjiang later in the day, prompting mass school and factory closures and a suspension of transit services in about a dozen cities. In Macao, schools and flights were canceled, and authorities warned residents to seek higher ground as floodwaters and debris clogged streets and power lines were reported in some areas. Rescue crews deployed inflatable boats to pull people from flood zones, and the local electricity provider cut power in certain flooded, low-lying sectors to prevent outages.

Hong Kong’s weather observatory said Ragasa’s center had maximum sustained winds near 195 kph (about 120 mph) and that the storm was tracking west or west-northwest at roughly 22 kph (about 14 mph). The city classifies cyclones with sustained winds of 185 kph or stronger as super typhoons, a label used to heighten alert for residents. Authorities warned that water levels could reach peaks similar to those recorded during Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, which caused direct economic losses estimated at about HK$4.6 billion (roughly $592 million).

Earlier in the typhoon’s trek, Ragasa left deadly destruction in Taiwan and the Philippines. In Taiwan, heavy rainfall caused a barrier lake in Hualien County to overflow, turning Guangfu township’s roads into raging rivers that swept vehicles and furniture away. Local officials said 14 people had died there and contact was lost with 124 others in Guangfu, a municipality of about 8,450 residents where rescuers were conducting door-to-door checks. Separately, 34 people were injured across Taiwan as the storm disrupted power and transport.

In the Philippines, authorities confirmed at least 10 deaths linked to Ragasa, including seven fishermen who drowned after their boat capsized off Santa Ana town in northern Cagayan province. Five others remained missing, provincial officials said. Nearly 700,000 people in Luzon, the main northern region, were affected, with about 25,000 seeking shelter in government emergency centers. The storm’s wide reach prompted a coordinated response across multiple national agencies as responders prepared for possible aftereffects such as flooding and landslides.

As Ragasa moved toward the mainland, officials in Hong Kong and neighboring jurisdictions urged residents to heed evacuation orders, avoid exposed coastal areas, and monitor official advisories. The situation remained fluid as emergency crews conducted rescues and stabilization operations, and meteorologists warned that the storm could continue to bring dangerous weather conditions to parts of southern China in the hours ahead.

Associated Press journalists contributed to this report.