Most powerful storm on earth hits Philippines, China, kills 17 in Taiwan
The most powerful storm on earth for the year 2025 so far has descended on the northern Philippines with destructive winds and torrential rain, which have prompted evacuations of thousands of people from prone areas, as well as in neighboring Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China.
Typhoon Ragasa, known in the Philippines as Nando, made landfall over Panuitan Island, in the northern Cagayan province, on Monday, according to the country’s meteorological agency (PAGASA), after generating sustained winds of over 267 kph (165 mph), the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane.
The Philippines’ meteorological agency had issued its highest tropical cyclone wind signal No. 5 on Monday morning for the northern Babuyan Islands, warning of potentially destructive conditions.
Nearly 700,000 people were affected by the onslaught in the main northern Philippine region of Luzon, including 25,000 people who fled to government emergency shelters.
At least 10 deaths were reported in the Philippines, including seven fishermen who drowned after their boat was battered by huge waves and fierce wind, and flipped over in northern Cagayan province. Five other fishermen remained missing, according to provincial officials.
In Taiwan’s eastern Hualien county, 17 people remained missing after a barrier lake overflowed and sent a wall of water into a town, the fire department said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile Hong Kong grappled with huge waves that crashed over areas of its eastern and southern shoreline. The water rushed along pavements and submerged some roads and residential properties.
After passing around 100 kilometres south of Hong Kong, Ragasa made landfall along the south Chinese coast.
Ragasa is forecast to remain in the South China Sea at least into Wednesday while skirting south of Taiwan and Hong Kong before hitting the Chinese mainland.
China’s marine authority issued its highest red wave warning for the first time this year, forecasting storm surges of up to 2.8 metres in parts of Guangdong province, as Ragasa charges toward the densely populated Pearl River Delta.
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan and Dongguan, the largest cities in the storm’s path, are home to around 50 million people.
Chinese state media reported that the emergency management ministry dispatched tens of thousands of tents, folding beds, emergency lighting and other rescue supplies to Guangdong province on Tuesday, while more than 770,000 people have been evacuated.
Ragasa formed over the Western Pacific last week. Fuelled by warm seas and favourable atmospheric conditions, the tropical cyclone rapidly intensified to become a Category 5 super typhoon on Monday, with winds exceeding 260 kilometres per hour.
