NEARLY two million people have been relocated across southern China as Typhoon Ragasa, one of the year’s strongest storms, slammed into the region after causing deadly flooding in Taiwan that left at least 14 people dead and more than 100 missing.
The typhoon forced financial hub Hong Kong and much of southern China to a standstill on Wednesday, disrupting transport and daily life across the Pearl River Delta.
Ragasa previously tore through remote islands in the Philippines and Taiwan’s rugged mountains, packing hurricane-strength winds that triggered landslides, giant waves, and widespread destruction.
In Taiwan, authorities said 14 people died while rescuers continue to search for 129 others missing after a natural dam collapsed in Hualien County, releasing an estimated 68 million tons of water that engulfed Guangfu township.
Videos showed torrents sweeping through streets, vehicles being carried away, and residents taking refuge on higher floors as floodwaters inundated homes.
The dam had formed after a July landslide, creating a precarious lake that experts had long warned could overflow.
Officials admitted they had considered dredging or draining the lake but concluded it was not feasible, choosing instead to monitor the situation.
They had anticipated a possible overflow in October, but the torrential rains from Ragasa accelerated the collapse.
The flooding also destroyed a major bridge in Hualien, further isolating communities in the mountainous east.
Meanwhile, in mainland China, Ragasa bore down on Guangdong province, home to megacities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou, prompting large-scale evacuations.
Authorities warned of storm surges, flash floods, and infrastructure damage as the typhoon continued its path along one of the world’s most densely populated coastlines.