Super Typhoon Ragasa
has wreaked havoc across Asia’s financial and tourism hubs, unleashing
hurricane-force winds, flooding, and widespread damage.
In Hong Kong, fallen trees, flooded
neighborhoods, and shattered glass doors of upscale hotels highlighted the
storm’s impact. Footage circulating online showed the Fullerton Ocean Park
Hotel lobby submerged after storm surges smashed through its glass
entrance. Floodwaters also engulfed the Heng Fa Chuen residential estate,
while strong winds tore off the roof of a pedestrian footbridge. Authorities
confirmed more than 760 residents sought shelter at emergency centers,
with hundreds of flights cancelled at Hong Kong International Airport.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued its highest
typhoon warning, reporting storm surges of over three meters above sea level.
Rail operator MTR suspended above-ground train services, while limited
underground travel continued.
Nearby Macau also endured severe flooding,
forcing power cuts in low-lying areas, according to utility provider CEM.
In Taiwan, authorities confirmed at least 14
dead and 18 injured after Ragasa caused a decades-old lake barrier in Hualien
County to collapse. Meanwhile, in the northern Philippines, the
typhoon claimed two lives before sweeping toward China.
On the mainland, China’s Emergency Management
Ministry warned that Ragasa will make landfall between Zhuhai and
Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province by Wednesday afternoon. Authorities have
ordered businesses and schools to shut across at least 10 cities,
affecting tens of millions of residents. Rail services were suspended in
Yangjiang, a city near the storm’s expected landfall zone, leaving
usually busy train stations deserted.
Tragically, in Hong Kong’s Chai Wan district, a
five-year-old boy and his mother were critically injured after being
swept into the sea while watching the waves. The child’s father, who jumped in
to rescue them, was also hospitalised.
Despite the destruction, residents described emergency
responses as swift and coordinated. “We were expecting chaos, but things are
functioning efficiently,” said 27-year-old chef Benjamin Phizacklea,
while firefighter Mr. Tse expressed concern over unstable bamboo
scaffolding after a grueling 11-hour shift.
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