HONG KONG/SHENZHEN, China: Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest tropical cyclone of 2025, surged toward southern China on September 24, following a deadly path through Taiwan and Hong Kong. The storm killed 14 people in Taiwan, left scores missing, and lashed Hong Kong with heavy rain and ferocious winds, disrupting daily life in one of Asia's busiest financial hubs.

In Taiwan, 129 people remain missing in Hualien County after a barrier lake overflowed, sending a wall of water through the town, according to the fire department. Ragasa's outer bands had been drenching the island since September 22, and residents in the tourist town of Guangfu criticized authorities for providing inadequate warning, despite Taiwan's reputation for swift typhoon evacuations.

Across the strait, Hong Kong faced massive waves crashing over its eastern and southern shorelines. Pavements and roads flooded as seawater surged into residential areas. Social media videos showed a torrent of water rushing through the glass doors of the Fullerton Hotel on the southern island. Calls to the hotel went unanswered as the city struggled with the storm's impact.

China's marine authority issued its first "red" wave warning of the year, predicting storm surges up to 2.8 meters (9 feet) in parts of Guangdong province as Ragasa barreled toward the densely populated Pearl River Delta. The typhoon formed over the Western Pacific last week, rapidly intensifying into a Category 5 super typhoon with winds exceeding 260 kph (162 mph). It has since weakened to a Category 3 storm but remains powerful enough to uproot trees, topple power lines, shatter windows, and damage buildings.

"Authorities have taken lessons from Hato and Mangkhut, which caused billions in damage in 2017 and 2018," said Chim Lee, an energy and climate specialist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. He noted that warmer seas and increased atmospheric moisture from climate change could intensify storms. "The Pearl River Delta is well-prepared for typhoons, so major disruptions are not expected, even with the Hong Kong stock market remaining open during the storm," Lee added. Nonetheless, Zijin Gold International delayed its US$3.2 billion IPO in Hong Kong.

Ragasa, passing about 100 km south of Hong Kong, is expected to make landfall along China's southern coast. Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, and Dongguan, home to roughly 50 million people, lie in its path. Tens of thousands of tents, emergency lighting, and rescue supplies were dispatched to Guangdong, and over 770,000 people were evacuated. Local businesses attempted to shield their shops with trucks.

Despite warnings, some residents ventured out. "We live on an upper floor and felt safe, so I brought the kids out to experience the heavy rain and wind," said Shenzhen resident Liang. Traffic police dispersed crowds under the Shenzhen Bay Bridge. In Hong Kong, a woman and her young son were swept into the sea and remain in intensive care. The city lowered its typhoon signal to 8 from 10, opened 50 shelters, and reported at least 50 injuries.

Nearby Macau also took precautions, sealing casino areas to protect guests from debris and strong winds.