Super Typhoon Ragasa, the most powerful tropical cyclone of the year, is moving toward southern China after causing significant destruction in Taiwan. The storm has resulted in at least 17 fatalities in Taiwan, with many residents reported missing. On Wednesday, Taiwan's fire department revised the number of missing persons from 152 to 17, following severe flooding in the tourist town of Guangfu. Residents expressed frustration over the lack of timely warnings from local authorities, who are typically quick to evacuate areas at risk from typhoons. Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai has called for an investigation into the evacuation failures, stating, "For the 14 who have tragically passed away, we must investigate why evacuation orders were not carried out in the designated areas."

As heavy rains continued to batter Taiwan, Hong Kong experienced powerful winds and massive waves that flooded parts of the city. Videos shared on social media showed seawater rushing into the Fullerton hotel, inundating its lobby. The Hong Kong Observatory reported that Ragasa, with maximum sustained winds of about 195 km/h, passed approximately 100 kilometers south of the city. The storm prompted the issuance of a red wave warning in China, predicting storm surges of up to 2.8 meters in Guangdong province.

Ragasa formed over the Western Pacific last week and rapidly intensified into a Category 5 super typhoon, with winds exceeding 260 km/h. It has since weakened to a Category 3 typhoon, which still poses risks of downed trees, power outages, and structural damage. Chim Lee, a senior energy and climate change specialist, noted that the Pearl River Delta is well-prepared for typhoons, stating, "We're not expecting major disruptions. One change this year is that the Hong Kong stock market has stayed open during typhoons - a sign of how resilient the infrastructure has become."

The storm is expected to make landfall along the southern Chinese coast later today, affecting major cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, and Dongguan, which collectively house around 50 million people. In preparation, China's emergency management ministry has dispatched thousands of tents, beds, and emergency supplies to Guangdong, where over 770,000 people have already been evacuated.

Authorities have warned of a high risk of flooding in low-lying areas of Shenzhen, with alerts expected to remain in effect until Thursday. A tragic incident was reported in Hong Kong, where a woman and her five-year-old son were swept into the ocean while observing the storm from the waterfront. They are currently in intensive care.

In Hong Kong, the typhoon signal was lowered from 10 to 8, but the city remains under lockdown. At least 50 people have been injured, and the government has opened 50 temporary shelters, which have accommodated 791 individuals. In Macau, casinos were forced to close their gaming areas, and guests were unable to leave their properties due to the storm. Videos showed casino doors being sealed to protect against strong winds and debris.