After Killing 17 In Taiwan, Typhoon Ragasa Slams Into South China

Typhoon Ragasa's devastating path through Taiwan claimed at least 17 lives and left 18 injured.

Southern China experienced severe weather conditions Wednesday as the powerful Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in Guangdong province, following its deadly impact in Taiwan where it claimed at least 17 lives.

The typhoon struck Guangdong, home to millions of residents, with AFP reporters in Yangjiang witnessing intense destruction including debris flying through the air and powerful gusts tearing advertisements from buildings.

Prior to hitting mainland China, Ragasa passed by Hong Kong, with the city's weather service classifying it as the strongest storm in the northwestern Pacific this year.

In Taiwan, the typhoon's heavy rainfall caused a decades-old barrier lake to rupture in eastern Hualien county, resulting in at least 17 fatalities and 18 injuries, according to regional officials.

Officials initially reported 152 people missing, but later reduced this number to 17 after successfully contacting over 100 individuals previously unaccounted for.

More than 7,600 people were evacuated due to Ragasa's impact, with fire agency footage showing flooded streets, partially submerged vehicles, and trees torn from the ground.

Chinese mainland authorities ordered the closure of businesses and schools in at least 10 southern cities, affecting tens of millions of people.

By Tuesday night, approximately 1.89 million people across various Guangdong cities had been relocated, according to the province's emergency management department.

Chinese meteorologists reported the typhoon made landfall along Hailing Island's coast, near Yangjiang City, around 5:00 pm local time (0900 GMT).

AFP journalists observed powerful winds destroying fences and downing trees, with branches scattered across the ground.

The normally busy Yangjiang train station stood empty as rail travel was suspended throughout Guangdong province on Wednesday.

For several hours, the powerful storm shook buildings while heavy rain poured down on the city.

Fire trucks navigated through mostly deserted streets as strong winds propelled branches along roads and overturned parked motorbikes.

Weather services reported maximum wind speeds near the storm's center reaching 145 kilometers per hour (90 miles per hour) at landfall.

- Hong Kong battered -

Hong Kong authorities confirmed that 90 people had received treatment for typhoon-related injuries at public hospitals by Wednesday evening.

Over 860 people sought shelter in the city's 50 temporary refuge centers.

The financial hub experienced hundreds of fallen trees and widespread flooding. Many of the city's tall buildings swayed noticeably during the intense winds.

At the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel, adjacent to a theme park, video footage verified by AFP showed a man losing balance after storm surge shattered glass doors and flooded the lobby.

A hotel spokesperson confirmed there were no injuries in the incident.

Another video showed floodwaters rushing into the seaside Heng Fa Chuen residential estate, inundating interior courtyards.

"It's like the end of the world... I never expected to see it as bad as this," remarked IT manager Paul Yendle near a severely damaged restaurant in Tseung Kwan O, another harbor-adjacent area.

An off-duty firefighter named Tse told AFP he felt "a bit worried" about nearby bamboo scaffolding safety as he returned home after an 11-hour shift of "non-stop" emergency work.

MTR, the rail operator, indicated that workers would need time to inspect and repair outdoor sections of train tracks.

The Airport Authority announced "only a limited number of cargo flights" were scheduled Wednesday, with their website showing hundreds of canceled passenger flights.

On Tuesday afternoon, a five-year-old boy and his mother fell into the sea while observing waves in the Chai Wan district, according to police reports.

Both were rushed to hospital with the mother remaining in critical condition Wednesday morning.

Macau, the nearby casino hub which also experienced extensive flooding, had power supplies suspended in some low-lying areas by utility company CEM.

Earlier this week, the typhoon struck parts of the northern Philippines, resulting in at least eight deaths, including seven fishermen.

Scientists caution that storms are becoming increasingly powerful as global warming continues due to human-driven climate change.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)