TYPHOON Ragasa made landfall in southern China on Wednesday afternoon, days after unleashing torrential rain and deadly floods across Taiwan that claimed at least 17 lives.

The powerful cyclone struck the coastal city of Yangjiang in Guangdong Province, bringing fierce winds and heavy downpours that disrupted daily life and forced widespread evacuations, a report by BBC said.

Chinese authorities had preemptively evacuated nearly 1.9 million residents across the province ahead of Ragasa’s arrival. Schools were suspended, public transport halted, and emergency shelters set up in anticipation of the storm’s impact.

Initial images from the affected areas showed downed power lines, flooded roads, and toppled trees as the typhoon swept inland.

The storm’s landfall followed a devastating series of events in Taiwan, where the overflow of a barrier lake in Hualien County caused flash floods that inundated several townships. The sudden rush of water swept away homes, roads, and a key bridge, leaving entire communities cut off. Most of the fatalities were reported in Guangfu Township, where elderly residents struggled to evacuate in time.

In addition to the 17 confirmed dead in Taiwan, at least 17 others remain missing, according to local disaster response units. More than 5,000 people were evacuated across the eastern counties, with hundreds taking shelter in schools and churches converted into temporary evacuation centers.

Rescue operations are ongoing, but challenging terrain and blocked access routes have slowed down efforts.(Ma. Victoria Diana, USJ-R Comm Intern)

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