Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest storm of the year in the region, has struck southern China after causing widespread devastation in Taiwan.

According to local reports, the typhoon made landfall on Wednesday at Hailing Island in Yangjiang City, located in China’s Guangdong Province. At the time of landfall, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that winds near the storm’s center were blowing at a speed of 144 kilometers per hour.

The storm’s destructive path began earlier in the week. On Monday, Ragasa first hit the Philippines, where it had intensified into a super typhoon. From there, it tracked across the South China Sea, battering Taiwan before moving toward mainland China. Its impact was also felt in Hong Kong, where heavy rains and strong winds caused injuries and flooding.

In Hong Kong, at least 62 people were reported injured due to the storm’s force. The typhoon disrupted transportation, damaged infrastructure, and led to widespread flooding in low-lying areas. Authorities in the city warned residents of dangerous conditions and urged people to stay indoors as much as possible.

Taiwan, however, experienced the most severe devastation. A dam at a lake in the city of Guangfu collapsed under the pressure of heavy rainfall, unleashing a surge of water into nearby residential areas. At least 17 people were killed in the flooding that followed, and authorities fear the death toll could rise further. Another 17 individuals remain missing, and rescue operations are continuing under difficult conditions.

The sudden breach of the dam left many residents trapped, and emergency teams have been working around the clock to recover those swept away by the floodwaters. Local news agencies reported that many homes were submerged, roads were cut off, and large areas of farmland were destroyed.

Taiwan’s Prime Minister Cho Jang-tai has ordered a formal investigation into the tragedy. He emphasized that authorities must determine why residents in the danger zone were not evacuated in time despite warnings of heavy rainfall and possible structural risks to the dam. During a visit to the disaster-hit area, Cho promised that accountability would be established and that measures would be taken to prevent such a disaster in the future.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim also traveled to the site to oversee relief efforts and meet with affected families. She pledged government support for rebuilding efforts and assured survivors that emergency aid would be delivered as quickly as possible.

Although Ragasa weakened slightly as it reached China, its intensity was still enough to cause significant damage. Strong winds and torrential rainfall hit coastal communities in Guangdong Province, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. Authorities have deployed rescue teams and emergency services to affected areas, while local officials warned of continued risks of flooding and landslides.

China’s state media has been broadcasting safety instructions, urging people to avoid coastal zones and prepare for possible power outages. In some areas, schools and businesses were closed as a precaution, while transportation networks reported disruptions due to fallen trees and debris.

Typhoon Ragasa’s passage underscores the destructive power of tropical cyclones in East and Southeast Asia, where densely populated coastal regions remain vulnerable to such storms. With the typhoon season still underway, regional governments are on high alert for further threats.

Despite its weakening, Ragasa left a trail of destruction across three countries, marking it as one of the most severe storms of 2025 so far. The combination of flooding, infrastructure damage, and loss of life in Taiwan, alongside injuries and economic disruption in Hong Kong and southern China, highlights the storm’s far-reaching impact. Recovery efforts in all affected regions are now underway, with a focus on rescuing missing individuals, repairing critical infrastructure, and supporting displaced families.