A massive and destructive Typhoon Ragasa is barreling toward southern China after battering the Philippines with violent winds and torrential rain, forcing widespread closures and disruptions across the region’s megacities.
Tens of millions of people are at risk as the storm approaches Guangdong Province, home to cities like Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. Ragasa struck the northern Philippines as the world’s strongest storm so far this year, unleashing winds of more than 165 mph (267 kph), equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. It made landfall over Panuitan Island in Cagayan province, leaving homes damaged, roads impassable, and triggering landslides before moving into the South China Sea.
Though the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reports Ragasa has weakened slightly, it remains a formidable Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 140 mph (222 kph). Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui captured the storm’s massive circulation from the International Space Station, underscoring its size and scale.
Authorities in China have activated emergency responses. In Shenzhen, officials ordered the relocation of 400,000 residents from coastal and low-lying areas. Guangzhou, a city of nearly 19 million, is expected to raise its alert to the maximum red level. Schools, businesses, and transport services across Guangdong have been suspended, leaving cities at a standstill.
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Hong Kong’s Observatory has warned of “phenomenal” swells and storm surges reaching up to four meters. Residents rushed to stockpile food and supplies, emptying supermarket shelves. Similar scenes unfolded in Shenzhen and Zhuhai. The Hong Kong–Macau–Zhuhai mega bridge will also be closed.
Air travel has been thrown into chaos. Hundreds of flights across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and southern China have been canceled or delayed. Cathay Pacific suspended passenger services in and out of Hong Kong until Thursday morning, while Hong Kong Airlines canceled dozens of flights for the week.
Videos from Taiwan showed massive waves and rough seas as Ragasa’s outer bands lashed the island. With one of the world’s most densely populated regions now bracing for impact, the storm poses a grave threat to millions awaiting its landfall.