Southern China and Hong Kong were left counting losses on Thursday after Typhoon Ragasa tore through the region, flooding streets, knocking down trees and damaging roads before weakening and heading west towards Vietnam.
Ragasa, recorded as the strongest cyclone of the year, forced the cancellation of international flights in Hong Kong earlier in the week. Although flights resumed on Thursday, some schools and kindergartens stayed closed as the city cleared debris and repaired damages. In Guangdong province, more than 2 million people had been evacuated before the storm hit. Excavators were deployed to clear fallen trees and open blocked roads.
The storm had already caused deadly devastation in Taiwan and the Philippines before reaching China. At least 14 people lost their lives in Taiwan, while 11 deaths were reported in the Philippines. In Macau, residents were seen fishing in flooded streets as Ragasa swept fish into urban areas. Authorities had warned people to remain indoors as conditions remained dangerous.
At its peak on Monday, Ragasa reached wind speeds of 165 mph (265 km/h), tearing through buildings and pushing storm surges inland. In Hong Kong, water smashed through a hotel’s glass doors and flooded its lobby. In Zhuhai and Yangjiang, streets were submerged, over 50,000 trees were destroyed, and rescuers used boats to help stranded residents. By Wednesday night, more than 56,000 homes in Guangdong were without electricity.
Although the storm has weakened into a tropical system, heavy rainfall is still expected in parts of China, Vietnam, and other areas of Southeast Asia. Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Phạm Minh ChÃnh, has directed local authorities to prepare emergency measures, safeguard key facilities such as dams and hospitals, and secure fishing vessels. Some flights have already been cancelled or delayed in northern Vietnam, while workers have been trimming trees to reduce risks.
In Hong Kong, the government lowered the typhoon warning to its third level, allowing airlines to restart operations. More than 100 people were injured in the city during Ragasa’s passage, as recovery and relief operations continue.