HONG KONG (AP) — Tropical Storm Ragasa has weakened significantly as it moves westward along the southern Chinese coast toward Vietnam. The storm previously caused widespread flooding, fatalities, and significant damage across various regions, particularly in Guangdong province, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
In the city of Yangjiang, Guangdong, inundated streets saw tree branches floating in the water. Local crews utilized excavators to remove thousands of fallen trees and clear blocked roads. State broadcaster CCTV reported more than 50,000 trees were destroyed in the city, with strong winds toppling road signs and causing further disruptions.
Meanwhile, the city of Zhuhai faced severe flooding, prompting rescuers to deploy inflatable boats to assist stranded residents. Some first-floor homes in older neighborhoods were submerged, as reported by Southern Metropolis Daily. By Wednesday night, over 56,000 households in Guangdong experienced a power outage due to the storm's impact.
In the Guangxi region, schools and businesses were shut down, and various tourism activities were halted. Ahead of the storm, local authorities relocated more than 2 million people throughout Guangdong. Ragasa had originally peaked at super-typhoon strength on Monday, with maximum sustained winds reaching 265 kph (165 mph), making it the world's strongest cyclone of the year.
As of Thursday morning, Ragasa's sustained winds have decreased to a maximum of 65 kph (40 mph), and it is expected to dissipate while continuing to pose a rain threat to Vietnam and surrounding Southeast Asian regions. In Vietnam, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has ordered government agencies and local authorities to safeguard vital infrastructure, including dams and hospitals, ensure the safety of fishing vessels, and prepare for evacuation and search operations. Some flights have been canceled or rescheduled in Vietnam, while tree trimming efforts are underway to prevent hazards from the winds.
In Hong Kong, operations disrupted earlier in the week are gradually returning to normal as flights resume following approximately 1,000 cancellations that affected around 140,000 passengers. Businesses have reopened, but remnants of the storm linger, with fallen branches scattered on streets after over 1,200 trees were uprooted in the city. The storm also led to nearly 100 injuries, with affected individuals transported to hospitals.
In Taiwan, the death toll has been revised from 17 to 14 due to inconsistencies in records. The victims were primarily in eastern Hualien County, where heavy rainfall caused a barrier lake to overflow, inundating Guangfu township. The flooding resulted in severe damage, with muddy torrents destroying bridges and turning roads into rivers that swept away vehicles and furniture. Many individuals remain unreachable in Hualien, and dozens have sustained injuries across the island.
The Philippines also suffered casualties from Ragasa, with at least 11 confirmed deaths. Among them were seven fishermen who drowned when their boat capsized in northern Cagayan province, with two fishermen reported missing as of Thursday. Additionally, another tropical storm, named Opong in the Philippines and Bualoi in other regions, is approaching the country from the Pacific. Expected to hit the east-central Philippines on Friday, this new storm has sustained winds of up to 110 kph (68 mph) and poses potential to strengthen into a typhoon.
Contributions to this report included input from Associated Press journalists Jim Gomez in Manila and Johnson Lai in Taipei.
