Super Typhoon Ragasa has devastated large parts of East Asia, striking the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and southern China with deadly winds, heavy rain, and storm surges. Considered the most powerful tropical cyclone of 2025, Ragasa has caused deaths, mass evacuations, and widespread destruction across the region.
Deadly Impact Across Asia
Taiwan: At least 17 people were killed after torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides in Hualien County. A barrier lake overflowed, destroying bridges and sweeping away homes.
Philippines: Authorities confirmed 10 deaths, including fishermen caught at sea, while thousands of families were forced into evacuation centers.
China: Nearly 1.9 million residents in Guangdong province were evacuated before the storm’s landfall. Severe flooding and power outages were reported.
In Hong Kong, the Observatory issued its highest typhoon warning (Signal No. 10). Winds reached nearly 195 km/h (120 mph), toppling trees, smashing windows, and forcing residents indoors. More than 700 flights were canceled as airlines evacuated planes to safer locations.
In Macau, flooding swamped the city, leaving cars stranded and streets underwater. Rescue crews deployed inflatable boats to reach residents trapped in their homes.
Ragasa made landfall in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province, still packing hurricane-force winds and torrential rainfall. Though it had weakened slightly, the typhoon remained extremely dangerous, causing storm surges of up to 5 meters in low-lying coastal areas.
Meteorologists noted Ragasa underwent rapid intensification, with sustained winds of 205 km/h and a central pressure of 905 hPa at peak strength. This places it among the strongest storms ever recorded in the South China Sea, alongside Typhoon Saola (2023) and Typhoon Yagi (2024).
From Taiwan’s flooded villages to Hong Kong’s submerged waterfronts, survivors described terrifying scenes of rising waters and fierce winds. Emergency crews across Asia are now focused on rescue operations, restoring power, and providing shelter to those displaced.
