Typhoon Ragasa batters Hong Kong and south China after killing dozens in
Taiwan and Philippines
[September 24, 2025]
By KANIS LEUNG and NG HAN GUAN
SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest in years,
whipped waves taller than lampposts onto Hong Kong promenades and turned
seas rough on the southern Chinese coast on Wednesday after leaving
deadly destruction in Taiwan and the Philippines.
In Taiwan, 17 people died in a flooded township, and 10 deaths were
reported in the northern Philippines.
Nearly 1.9 million people were relocated across Guangdong province, the
southern Chinese economic powerhouse. A weather station in Chuandao town
recorded maximum gusts of 241 kph (about 150 mph) at noon, a high in
Jiangmen city since record-keeping began. Huge waves battered Zhuhai
city’s coastline and strong winds buffered trees under intense rain.
Fallen branches were scattered on the streets.
State broadcaster CCTV said the typhoon made landfall along the coast of
Hailing Island in Yangjiang city at about 5 p.m., packing maximum winds
near the center of 144 kph (89 mph). It is forecast to keep moving west.
Schools, factories and transportation services were initially suspended
in about a dozen cities, but a few of them distant from the landfall
location were preparing to resume work as winds weakened
The fierce winds, brought by Ragasa, once a super typhoon, woke Hong
Kong residents in the early hours, and many went online to describe
scenes like a kitchen ventilation fan being blown down and a crane
swaying.
Winds and waves lash Hong Kong, push seawater onto promenade
Strong winds blew away parts of a pedestrian bridge’s roof and knocked
down hundreds of trees across the city. A vessel crashed into the shore,
shattering a row of glass railings along the waterfront. Areas around
some rivers and promenades were flooded, including cycling lanes and
playgrounds. At several promenade restaurants, furniture was scattered
chaotically by the winds. Over 80 injured people were treated at
hospitals.
A video that showed waves of water crashing through the doors of a hotel
and flooding its interiors went viral in the financial hub. The hotel
has not immediately commented on the incident. But staff were seen
cleaning up the lobby, with parts of its exterior damaged.
Hong Kong and Macao, a nearby casino hub, canceled schools and flights,
with many shops closed. Hundreds of people sought refuge in temporary
centers in each city. Streets in Macao turned into streams with debris
floating on the water. Rescue crews deployed inflatable boats to save
those who were trapped. The gambling city's local electricity supplier
suspended its power supply in some flooded, low-lying areas for safety.
Hong Kong’s observatory said Ragasa had maximum sustained winds near the
center of about 195 kph (120 mph) and skirted around 100 kilometers (62
miles) to the south of the city. Hong Kong categorizes cyclones with
sustained winds 185 kph or stronger as super typhoons to make residents
extra vigilant about intense storms.
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In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, members from the local
customs authority help stranded citizens to evacuate from an
inundated street as Super typhoon Ragasa past nearby Macao in
southern China, Sept. 24, 2025. (Cheong Kam Ka/Xinhua via AP)
The observatory said Ragasa is the strongest tropical cyclone in the
northwestern Pacific and South China Sea region so far this year.
Preliminary analysis showed it also ranks as the second-strongest
one in the South China Sea region since the observatory's
record-keeping began in 1950, tying with typhoons Saola in 2023 and
Yagi in 2024, it said.
Dozens dead in floods and at sea in Philippines and Taiwan
Ragasa earlier caused deaths and damage in Taiwan and the
Philippines after the typhoon took a path between them.
In Taiwan, 17 people died after heavy rain caused a barrier lake in
Hualien County to overflow Tuesday and torrents of muddy water
destroyed a bridge, turning roads in Guangfu township into churning
rivers that carried vehicles and furniture away.
Guangfu has about 8,450 people, more than half of whom sought safety
on higher floors of their homes or on higher ground on Wednesday
morning.
Rescuers managed to establish contact with more than 100 others who
were previously unreachable, and were going door-to-door to check on
the remaining 17 residents. A total of 32 people were injured across
the self-ruled island.
At least 10 deaths were reported in the northern Philippines,
including seven fishermen who drowned after their boat was battered
by huge waves and fierce wind and flipped over on Monday off Santa
Ana town in northern Cagayan province. Five other fishermen remained
missing, provincial officials said.
Nearly 700,000 people were affected by the onslaught, of whom 25,000
fled to government emergency shelters.
___
Leung reported from Hong Kong. Associated Press journalists Jim
Gomez in Manila, Philippines, and Johnson Lai in Taipei, Taiwan,
contributed to this report.
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