Typhoon Ragasa Devastates Taiwan, Makes Landfall in China

Sun Oct 19 2025 20:26:53 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Typhoon Ragasa, the world's strongest storm of the year, has made landfall in China, causing significant destruction and loss of life in Taiwan due to severe flooding.

After Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in southern China, authorities reported at least 17 fatalities in Taiwan stemming from flooding caused by a dam breach. Nearly two million individuals were evacuated in China as the storm approached, which maintains destructive winds of over 144 km/h. The region braces for further rain and possible landslides in the aftermath of the devastating storm.

Typhoon Ragasa has made landfall in southern China, where nearly two million people have been evacuated in preparation for its arrival.

It comes after authorities said at least 17 people had been killed and more missing in Taiwan after a lake burst on Tuesday, causing severe flooding in the island's east.

Ragasa was downgraded from a super to a severe typhoon, but it remains highly destructive, with top winds of 241km/h (150mph) recorded in Taishan county in Guangdong province.

The equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, Ragasa is the world's strongest storm this year and has been roaring over the South China Sea.

Ahead of making landfall, 90 people were injured in Hong Kong as the storm skirted its coastline, prompting a level 10 warning from the observatory.

The typhoon made landfall on Hailing Island in Yanjiang City, Guangdong, with sustained winds of 144km/h and higher gusts. Wind speeds are expected to gradually weaken, but heavy rain will continue for several days.

In Taiwan, Premier Cho Jung-Tai has called for an inquiry into the evacuation procedures that led to the tragedies in Hualien.

Many areas remain unrecognizable as search teams sift through mud and debris looking for those reported missing.

The local government's response has included deploying troops to assist with ongoing rescue efforts, as they work to recover from what officials described as the worst flooding in memory, likened to a tsunami from the mountains.

In Hong Kong and the Philippines, Ragasa caused substantial disruptions, with businesses closed and schools shut down as authorities continued to assess the aftermath of the typhoon.