Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: At least 14 people died, over 125 went missing, and more than a million were being relocated to safety as super typhoon Ragasa pounded China, Taiwan, and neighbouring countries, the media reported on Wednesday.
These people were killed when a decades-old lake barrier burst in Taiwan, a government official said, after Ragasa pounded the island with torrential rain.
The barrier lake in eastern Hualien County burst on Tuesday, washing away a bridge and sweeping into a town with a trail of thick sludge and mud.
Lee Kuan-ting, a Hualien County Government press official, said 14 people were killed and 18 were injured.
The National Fire Agency said 124 people were missing, the media reported.
Ragasa also struck Xiachuan Island, China, bringing fierce winds, heavy rain, and widespread flooding after wreaking havoc in Hong Kong. One of the strongest storms in years, Ragasa, has prompted Chinese authorities to issue evacuation orders for two million people.
The National Meteorological Agency predicted that the powerful typhoon would hit the coast between Yangjiang and Zhanjiang on Wednesday evening. In response, schools, factories, and transport services were shut down across roughly a dozen cities. Frightening footage emerged from Guangdong, China, where a local station recorded wind gusts of 240 km per hour, the strongest ever measured in the region, according to Global Times.
An hour before the lake burst, many people were still at the local supermarket and grocery store. “Within minutes, the water had risen to halfway up the first floor,” a customer said.
Footage released by the local fire agency showed flooded streets, half-submerged cars and uprooted trees.
Across Taiwan, more than 7,600 people were evacuated due to Ragasa.
Taiwan experiences frequent tropical storms from July to October.
Typhoon Danas, which hit the island in early July, killed two people and injured hundreds as the storm dumped more than 50 cm of rain across the south over a weekend.
Super typhoon Ragasa lashed Hong Kong on Wednesday with heavy winds and rain, causing damage in many areas.
A dramatic video going viral online showed waves crashing through the glass doors of a seaside hotel in Hong Kong as Ragasa battered the port city with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain. The hotel has been identified as the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel in Aberdeen, where seawater surged into the lobby, sweeping a man off his feet as staff and guests scrambled to escape. Hotel staff confirmed that no serious injuries were reported.
In the video, the water level was seen quickly rising to knee level inside the lobby, and employees could be heard urging people to evacuate.
Super typhoon Ragasa prompted the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) to raise its highest warning, the T10 signal, at 2:40 am on Wednesday, just an hour after issuing the T9 alert.
It caused storm surges and widespread flooding, with sea levels rising significantly along the eastern coastline. In some parts of the city, waves reportedly reached the height of lampposts, crashing into housing estates and inundating waterfront roads. Social media posts showed floodwaters sweeping into courtyards and onto major streets early in the morning.
Authorities said that by 9 am, they had received at least 350 reports of fallen trees across the city. The Hospital Authority said 56 people were injured during the storm and received treatment at accident and emergency departments.
Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Department has opened 50 temporary shelters in various districts, with nearly 800 residents seeking refuge.
The Observatory warned that rough seas, flooding, and strong winds would continue to pose risks even as Ragasa weakened. Citizens have been urged to remain indoors and stay away from exposed windows and doors.