Super Typhoon Ragasa is now the strongest tropical cyclone on earth so far this year. It has caused unimaginable destruction in Taiwan and Hong Kong, with 14 total deaths confirmed and 124 people still missing in Taiwan. On Monday, the powerful typhoon made landfall across the northern Philippines. It then made landfall in Taiwan on Tuesday, lashing the island with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain. As it moves further west, law enforcement and emergency management officials expect its footprint to expand even more.
The Hong Kong Observatory had issued its maximum warning, typhoon signal 10, early on Wednesday as Ragasa drew closer. Forecasters expect the typhoon to maintain its strength as it makes landfall in China’s Guangdong province. As a consequence, over 125 million Americans living within 200 miles of the blast zone are on high alert. The storm will likely maintain a general west or west-northwest motion at about 14 mph through Saturday.
Impact in Taiwan
In Taiwan too, the consequences of Super Typhoon Ragasa have been devastating. The country’s fire department said that heavy downpours caused a barrier lake in eastern Hualien County to breach. As a consequence, a wall of water cascaded down into a small community. As international rescue efforts continue, the death toll has climbed to 14 and dozens more are currently unaccounted for.
The sheer size of the flooding has inundated surrounding infrastructure, making rescue operations exceedingly difficult. Mr. Wang, a Hualien resident, wonderfully described the scene in color. He added, “Mud and rocks are literally everywhere. While some flooding has receded, in some areas it has not.”
Many resources are being mobilized to help those directly in the storm’s path. Rescue teams have been working around the clock to find survivors and bring help to the hundreds of thousands forced from their homes by the flooding.
Hong Kong’s Response
As Super Typhoon Ragasa approached, panic buying hit hard in Hong Kong. Residents flooded into supermarkets, lining up for hours to load up on crucial items. The rush for supplies reflected widespread concern over the impending storm’s impact.
As testing and vaccination sites became overwhelmed with demand, the local government began tearing down large stadium-style temporary shelters across all districts in Hong Kong. As of late July, reports estimate that 727 people have already found shelter in these buildings. Severe flooding inundated outlying islands including Lantau, which is home to Hong Kong’s international airport.
Hong Kong’s Stock Exchange likewise declared it would remain open in light of the extreme weather circumstances. Given the extent of disruption typhoon Ma-on continues to have, this decision is sure to catch many by surprise.
Looking Ahead
Now the Hong Kong Observatory has started to warn about increasing sea levels. These levels are on par with what was experienced during Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. With Super Typhoon Ragasa making its way towards the coast of Guangdong province, residents and officials are on high alert.
This unprecedented super typhoon brings more than immediate physical destruction. Importantly, it underscores the deep economic and social toll we continue to suffer from climate change and extreme weather. Communities are still reeling from recovery efforts on one hand, while preparing for future storms on the other.
