Typhoon Ragasa, the most powerful storm this year, caused extensive destruction in southern China and Taiwan earlier this week. As the world watched, the storm barreled towards the northern Philippines, where it unloaded much of its catastrophic fury. At one point, it was rated a Category 5 hurricane. Since then, this powerful storm has wreaked havoc, claiming at least 14 lives in Taiwan and leaving 129 others missing. As the storm continues its relentless march forward, the impacts are already being felt with mass evacuations underway in Guangdong province. Major cities, including Shenzhen and Guangzhou, are particularly affected.
On Wednesday, Typhoon Ragasa shuttered the international finance center of Hong Kong. The city and Macau raised their top-level hurricane prediction alert to its highest level. Winds howled with maximum gusts up to 168 kilometers per hour (104.39 mph). The storm brought record-shattering waves, with landslides cutting across the devastated area, making recovery even more difficult.
In Taiwan, Typhoon Ragasa’s effects proved especially destructive. One flood-induced natural dam break unleashed 68 million tons of water onto neighboring areas. This unprecedented occurrence has compounded the devastation created by the typhoon. As a result it is now the death count is still climbing and more people are still listed as missing.
Ragasa plowed through the far-flung islands of the Philippines and corkscrewed through the rugged highlands of Taiwan. It left a historic, deadly and disastrous trail of destruction in its wake. Initial reports indicated that at least four fatalities occurred in the Philippines, although this number remains unverified as rescue operations continue.
As of late Tuesday night, Guangdong province officials moved about 1.89 million residents to sheltered locations. The rapid response underscores the need for immediate action as Typhoon Hinnamnor approaches heavily populated metropolitan areas.
Typhoon Ragasa just before landfall in southern China. Unfortunately, this leads to a pattern that makes storm effects much worse in large urban areas. Now, hurricane-force winds and torrential rains have local emergency managers and other officials on high alert. So they’re doing something to save more lives and avoid more property damage.
According to Hong Kong’s Weather Observatory, Typhoon Ragasa has been the ninth typhoon to hit Hong Kong this season. This high-resolution data was made available by the City University of Hong Kong. The continued dangers from this storm is a stark reminder of how worsening weather patterns have affected the area.
