Super Typhoon Ragasa: 14 dead, more than 100 missing in Taiwan after storm hits island
The most powerful typhoon to hit the region in recent years made itself felt in the Pearl River Delta
In Taiwan, 14 people were confirmed dead, 34 injured and 152 missing by Super Typhoon Ragasa, according to the island’s Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Wind speeds of 212km/h were recorded in the city of Zhuhai.
Around 11am, the National Meteorological Centre forecast that Ragasa would weaken in the coming hours because of the influence of “dry air intrusion” and “terrain effects”, according to the Guangzhou Broadcasting Network.
The National Meteorological Centre said that in addition to high winds, rain between 25cm to 45cm (9 to 17 inches) and waves as high as 7 metres (23 feet) were expected.
The typhoon was forecast to make landfall between Taishan and Xuwen county in western Guangdong on Wednesday afternoon or evening, and heavy rainfall and wind would continue through Thursday, according to Guangdong’s weather forecaster.
More than 371,000 people have been evacuated across the province while helicopters and drones, 23 ships and 38,000 firefighters remain on standby.
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Super Typhoon Ragasha batters China’s tech hub, Shenzhen
In Guangdong, more than 10 cities announced schools, businesses, markets and transport closures, affecting tens of millions of people.
By midday on Tuesday, the southern tech hub of Shenzhen had cancelled 210 departing flights and 319 incoming flights. All buses, taxis, subways and highways were closed by Tuesday evening.
Residents have been stockpiling food, water and even portable phone batteries for the past two days. Businesses have taped their windows, tied down rubbish bins and outdoor chairs, while local governments trimmed trees and checked underground passageways, construction sites and mountainous regions for safety hazards.
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