Super Typhoon Ragasa Paralyzes Hong Kong with Highest Warning Signal

Hong Kong Under Siege by Super Typhoon Ragasa

Hong Kong was brought to a near standstill on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, as Super Typhoon Ragasa lashed the city with hurricane-force winds and torrential rains. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) issued its highest warning, the No. 10 Hurricane Signal, which remained in effect for an unprecedented 10 hours and 40 minutes, marking the second-longest duration in the city's recorded history. The powerful storm, which had previously caused significant damage and casualties across the region, led to widespread disruption, including mass flight cancellations and numerous injuries.

Storm's Intensity and Historical Significance

Super Typhoon Ragasa approached Hong Kong as one of the most powerful storms of the year. At its closest, the typhoon was approximately 100 to 120 kilometers south of the city, with sustained winds near its center reaching 195 km/h (121 mph). Earlier, its maximum sustained winds near the center were recorded at 220 km/h (137 mph). The HKO upgraded the warning to the No. 10 signal at 2:40 AM on Wednesday, later downgrading it to T8 at 1:20 PM and then to T3 by 8:20 PM as the storm moved away. This event also marked the second time in 2025 that Hong Kong experienced a No. 10 signal, a rare occurrence last seen in 1964. Notably, Ragasa set a new record as the most distant typhoon to trigger the No. 10 signal without passing within 100 kilometers of the territory, highlighting its expansive and destructive wind field.

Widespread Disruption and Infrastructure Impact

The typhoon's impact on Hong Kong's infrastructure and daily life was severe. Public transportation services, including parts of the MTR Light Rail and other rail services on open sections, were suspended. Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) saw all landings and departures cancelled for a 36-hour period, beginning Tuesday evening. This led to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights, affecting approximately 140,000 passengers. Airlines based in Hong Kong, such as Cathay Pacific, relocated about 80% of their aircraft to other airports to prevent damage. The city experienced extensive damage, including:

• Over 1,200 reports of fallen trees across the territory.
• Widespread flooding in coastal areas, with water levels rising over 3 meters above the reference level.
• The lobby of the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel was inundated by storm surge.
• Flooding was also reported in areas like Heng Fa Chuen and along the Shing Mun River.
• At least one landslide report was received.
• Schools and many businesses remained closed throughout the day.

In response to the emergency, the Home Affairs Department opened 49 temporary shelters, accommodating over 700 people seeking refuge from the storm.

Casualties and Regional Toll

The powerful typhoon resulted in injuries within Hong Kong and significant casualties across the broader region. In Hong Kong, at least 56 people were reported injured by Wednesday morning, with later reports indicating over 100 individuals received treatment at public hospitals for storm-related injuries. Regionally, Super Typhoon Ragasa caused a higher death toll:

• In Taiwan, at least 14 to 17 people were killed, primarily due to a lake barrier bursting in Hualien County.
• The Philippines reported between 3 and 10 fatalities.

In mainland China, particularly Guangdong province, authorities undertook massive evacuation efforts, relocating over 2 million people from flood-prone areas as the typhoon made landfall. Despite the extensive damage and disruption, officials noted that preparedness efforts, including early warnings and lessons learned from past typhoons like Mangkhut in 2018, helped mitigate the impact in Hong Kong.