Hong Kong and parts of southern China are slowly returning to normalcy after Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone so far this year, battered the region with record-breaking winds, torrential rains, and widespread disruption. The storm, which reached sustained wind speeds of up to 265 km/h (165 mph), left a trail of destruction across the northern Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China’s Guangdong province, testing the resilience of millions and putting emergency services on high alert.
Ragasa first made headlines earlier in the week as it swept through the northern Philippines, claiming at least 10 lives and causing chaos before barreling toward Taiwan. According to Reuters, the typhoon then carved a path toward Hong Kong and the densely populated southern coast of China. By the time it made landfall in Yangjiang, western Guangdong, at around 5 p.m. on September 24, 2025, authorities had already scrambled to evacuate more than 1 million people from vulnerable areas—a testament to the storm’s anticipated ferocity.
For Hong Kong, the ordeal began on the afternoon of September 23, when the city imposed its highest typhoon warning signal, Signal 10, for most of Wednesday. The usually bustling metropolis ground to a halt: businesses shuttered, public transport ceased, and residents hunkered down as howling winds and sheets of rain battered the city. By the time the storm passed, more than 100 people had been injured, and the city’s iconic skyline bore witness to the aftermath—shattered glass, uprooted trees, and flooded streets.
One of the most dramatic scenes unfolded at the Fullerton hotel on Hong Kong Island’s south side, where seawater surged through the building, shattering glass doors and inundating the lobby. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the hotel quickly announced that services were operating as normal. Meanwhile, huge waves crashed over the city’s eastern and southern shorelines, submerging roads and residential properties, while authorities raced to respond to around 85 separate flooding cases and clear more than 1,000 fallen trees.
Shopkeepers and local residents faced staggering losses. In Zhuhai, a coastal city near Hong Kong, shopkeeper Yang Yanna surveyed the damage to her store, which specialized in luxury alcohol, tea, and cigarettes. "I’ve been here for over ten years, and (the typhoons) have never been this intense," Yang told Reuters, estimating her losses at more than 300,000 yuan (about $42,100). Nearby, a home goods seller named Nie tried to salvage sodden toothpaste boxes, lamenting, "Since the pandemic, it’s been extremely difficult to run a business. Everything we do is at a loss... And now you come in and there’s nothing."
Preparation for Ragasa had begun days earlier. Authorities distributed sandbags on September 22 so residents could shore up homes in low-lying areas. Supermarkets saw shelves emptied as people rushed to stockpile daily necessities, driving up prices for fresh vegetables and other staples. Still, the scale of the storm caught many off guard. As Yang put it, "I thought the floodwater would be the height of these chairs, or a bit higher, no problem. But it rose higher than we expected."
Guangdong province, home to major cities like Shenzhen and Zhuhai, bore the brunt of the storm after Ragasa made landfall. The typhoon’s record strength was evident on Shangchuan island—around 100 kilometers south of Jiangmen—where maximum gusts reached 64.3 meters per second (well above Beaufort scale level 17), the strongest ever recorded at the Guangdong meteorological station, according to the South China Morning Post. The storm’s fury severely damaged undersea communication cables, resulting in partial communications and electricity outages on both Shangchuan and neighboring Xiachuan islands. By Thursday morning, families were desperately trying to reach loved ones on the islands, as reported by The Paper.
Despite the devastation, Guangdong province reported no typhoon-related casualties as of the morning of September 26, a remarkable outcome given the storm’s power. This was in stark contrast to the toll in the Philippines and Hong Kong, where at least 14 people lost their lives and dozens more were injured as Ragasa swept through earlier in the week.
As the skies cleared on Thursday, the long process of recovery began. In Hong Kong, flights at the international airport resumed after a 36-hour suspension, with all three runways operating simultaneously. Businesses, schools, and public transport gradually reopened, and cleaning crews got to work clearing debris and repairing collapsed roads. In Shenzhen, the tech hub adjacent to Hong Kong, reopening efforts were already underway by Wednesday evening, with teams removing downed trees and branches from major roads.
Zhuhai, meanwhile, faced extensive flooding in several districts. Local media showed images of submerged streets and waterlogged shops, as residents and business owners tallied their losses and began the arduous task of cleanup. Across the region, the focus quickly shifted to restoring essential services. Workers in Guangdong moved to repair undersea cables and restore communications and electricity to affected islands. Ferry services were gradually resuming, and roads were being cleared to allow emergency aid and supplies to reach isolated communities.
The storm’s impact also reverberated through supply chains and daily life. With supermarkets emptied before the storm and fresh produce prices surging, many residents faced temporary shortages. Yet, the swift response from local governments—ranging from mass evacuations to rapid repairs—helped prevent an even greater crisis. The sense of community resilience was palpable, with neighbors helping each other clear debris and salvage what they could from the wreckage.
Looking back, Ragasa’s passage served as a sobering reminder of the increasing power and unpredictability of tropical cyclones in a warming climate. The record-breaking gusts on Shangchuan, the widespread flooding in urban centers, and the strain on infrastructure all underscored the challenges facing coastal cities in the years ahead. For now, as life slowly returns to normal in Hong Kong, Guangdong, and beyond, the focus remains on recovery—and on learning lessons for the future.
While the scars of Ragasa will linger for some time, the rapid reopening of businesses, schools, and transport is a testament to the region’s resilience. For the families and shopkeepers picking up the pieces, the hope is that with each storm, communities grow stronger and better prepared for whatever comes next.
