Strong winds, heavy rain, and surging seas battered Hong Kong on Wednesday as Super Typhoon Ragasa advanced toward southern China, after triggering a deadly lake burst in Taiwan that killed at least 14 people.
The storm caused widespread damage across Hong Kong. Trees were uprooted, streets flooded, and a powerful storm surge shattered the glass doors of a luxury hotel, sending torrents of water into its lobby, according to footage shared online.
Ragasa began moving away from Hong Kong around noon local time, but the city continued to face hurricane-force winds. The Hong Kong Observatory had issued its highest-level typhoon warning overnight, reporting “significant storm surge” with coastal waters rising more than three metres above normal levels.
Macau also reported severe flooding, prompting power company CEM to suspend electricity in low-lying areas.
In Taiwan, officials said at least 14 people were killed and 18 injured after a decades-old lake barrier burst in Hualien county under Ragasa’s pressure. The storm had earlier ripped through the northern Philippines, leaving at least two dead.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management announced Ragasa was expected to make landfall along Guangdong’s coast between Zhuhai and Zhanjiang from midday to late Wednesday.
Businesses and schools were ordered to close in at least 10 cities across southern China, affecting tens of millions.
In Yangjiang, west of Hong Kong and close to the projected landfall, streets emptied as winds strengthened.
A local shopkeeper told AFP she was unsure if her convenience store would open. “It will depend on the weather conditions,” she said.
The city’s train station, usually busy, stood deserted as Guangdong suspended all rail services.
Multiple districts across Hong Kong experienced flooding, according to images verified by AFP.
One video showed storm surges bursting through the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel, sweeping a man off his feet. “We are doing all we can to mitigate the impact brought about by the super typhoon,” a hotel spokesperson said.
Floodwaters also surged through the Heng Fa Chuen housing estate, covering its courtyards, while strong winds tore the roof off a pedestrian bridge. Several of the city’s skyscrapers swayed and rattled.
An off-duty firefighter surnamed Tse said he was “a bit worried” about nearby bamboo scaffolding as he returned home after an 11-hour “non-stop” shift.
“This one was forecast to be quite bad so we were expecting a bit of chaos … [but everywhere seems to be functioning quite efficiently still,” said Benjamin Phizacklea, a 27-year-old chef.
Rail operator MTR suspended services on open-air sections, while limited underground lines remained in operation. More than 760 people took shelter at 50 temporary centres, authorities said.
Hong Kong’s airport reported only a few cargo flights operating, while hundreds of passenger flights were cancelled.
Police said a five-year-old boy and his mother were in critical condition after falling into the sea in Chai Wan district on Tuesday while watching the waves. The father, who jumped in after them, was also hospitalised.
Residents braced for further disruption. Terence Choi, a local, said he stocked two days of food and was “quite nervous” about potential power and water outages.
In Lei Yue Mun, resident Yang Lee-o said government crews had already placed sandbags in preparation.
Hong Kong’s deputy leader Eric Chan warned Ragasa posed a “serious threat,” comparing it to the destructive super typhoons of 2017 and 2018 that caused hundreds of millions in property damage.
Scientists say storms are growing more powerful as climate change fuels rising global temperatures.
In Shenzhen, authorities ordered the evacuation of 400,000 people. Officials there urged residents to stay indoors, saying that except for rescue teams and essential workers, “do not go out casually.”
Other Guangdong cities imposing restrictions included Chaozhou, Zhuhai, Dongguan, and Foshan.
