Typhoon Ragasa makes landfall in China after 17 killed in Taiwan

Typhoon Ragasa made landfall along the coast of Hailing Island in Yanjiang City, Guangdong province, at about 5:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, after roiling the South China Sea and prompting the evacuation of about two million people in southern China. The storm had been downgraded from a super typhoon to a severe typhoon earlier in the day but still carried sustained winds near the coast of 144 km/h with higher gusts. Earlier, top winds reached 241 km/h in Taishan county, making Ragasa the strongest storm this year.

Taiwan faced the worst of Ragasa as it crossed the island's east. Officials said at least 17 people were killed and several others remained missing after a barrier lake formed by a landslide burst and sent floodwaters through Hualien County. The Matai’an Creek barrier lake release washed away bridges, submerged ground floors, and left residents stranded on upper floors. Geologists described the breach as a tsunami from the mountains, releasing an estimated 15.4 million tonnes of water. In Dama village, roughly 1,000 residents saw their homes and streets inundated as flood waters swamped entire blocks. The government established a front-line disaster response center in Hualien and the Defense Ministry deployed troops to assist with rescue and recovery. Officials cautioned that the situation remained fluid and that more people could be unaccounted for as teams continued door-to-door checks.

Even as Ragasa neared the coast of Guangdong, Hong Kong reported about 90 injuries as winds and rain lashed the city while the storm skirted the shoreline. The Hong Kong Observatory issued its highest level warning and authorities canceled or delayed many flights, with some services resuming later that night. In the Philippines, Ragasa previously battered remote northern islands, causing floods and displacements and killing at least eight people, according to local officials. Peak winds were measured at about 260 km/h, making Ragasa one of the year’s strongest storms.

In Guangdong, authorities prepared for seawater intrusion along the coast and warned of landslides in hilly areas. Zhuhai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou braced for tidal surges; police patrolled streets with megaphones telling people to stay indoors. The storm crossed the mainland with sustained winds of 144 km/h and gusts higher, and meteorologists warned that while wind would weaken inland, torrential rain would continue for days. Officials said about two million residents were evacuated and relief teams prepared shelters and relief supplies.

The China Meteorological Administration has called Ragasa the King of Storms and warned it could be more destructive than other Guangdong typhoons this year. The storm’s path prompted alerts across the Pearl River Delta and surrounding regions as officials stressed resilience and rapid response to potential floods, landslides and transportation disruptions.

Meteorologists expect Ragasa to weaken further as it moves inland, but the rains could linger for several days, complicating recovery efforts. Taiwan officials will conduct a full review of evacuation orders to determine whether measures were followed and how to improve the process in future events. Rescue teams continue to comb affected areas for missing residents, while authorities in China monitor for flash floods and road closures as relief operations proceed.