Tropical Cyclone Ragasa Weakens After Impacting China, Taiwan, and the Philippines

Tropical Cyclone Ragasa has weakened as it moves westward along China's southern coast toward Vietnam, following its earlier impact on China, Taiwan, and the Philippines. In China's Guangdong province, the storm caused extensive damage, including the toppling of over 10,000 trees in Yangjiang city and flooding in Zhuhai, where rescuers used inflatable boats to assist stranded residents. Nearly half a million households experienced power outages, with more than a third still without electricity as of Thursday morning.

Communication was disrupted on some islands in Jiangmen city, and in the Guangxi region, schools and businesses were closed, and tourism activities halted in certain cities. Prior to Ragasa's arrival, over 2 million people were relocated across Guangdong. The storm, which reached super-typhoon strength with maximum sustained winds of 265 kph (165 mph), was the world's strongest cyclone of the year. By Thursday afternoon, it had weakened to a tropical depression with sustained winds of 55 kph (34 mph) and was forecast to dissipate while still posing a rain threat to Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính instructed government ministries and local authorities to protect infrastructure, secure fishing vessels and coastal assets, and prepare for evacuation and search and rescue operations. Some flights were canceled or rescheduled, and workers trimmed trees to mitigate wind hazards in the northern part of the country.

In Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, activities that had been halted earlier in the week were gradually resuming. Flights in Hong Kong resumed after approximately 1,000 disruptions affecting about 140,000 passengers. Businesses reopened on Thursday, though fallen branches remained scattered on the streets after more than 1,200 trees were toppled by the storm's winds. Around 100 injured individuals were hospitalized.

In Taiwan, authorities revised the death toll from 17 to 14, citing double-counting. The victims were in eastern Hualien County, where heavy rain caused a barrier lake to overflow, leading to flooding in Guangfu township. Muddy torrents destroyed a bridge, turning roads into rivers that carried vehicles and furniture away. Some individuals remained unaccounted for in Hualien, and dozens were injured across the island. During a visit to the county, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te expressed condolences over the loss of lives and stated that the government would do its utmost to help Hualien return to normal life.

In the Philippines, Ragasa resulted in at least 11 deaths, including seven fishermen who drowned when their boat overturned in northern Cagayan province. Two fishermen remained missing as of Thursday. Another tropical storm, named Opong in the Philippines and Bualoi elsewhere, was approaching from the Pacific. Forecasts indicated it could strengthen into a typhoon and was expected to hit the east-central Philippines on Friday, with sustained winds of up to 110 kph (68 mph) and higher gusts.