China Evacuates Over One Million Residents as Typhoon Ragasa Batters Southern Provinces

Authorities in China’s southern Guangdong Province have carried out mass evacuations of more than one million residents as Typhoon Ragasa swept across the region, bringing torrential rains, destructive winds, and widespread flooding. The storm, which has already wreaked havoc in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, is now being described as one of the most powerful to hit the region in recent years, according to emergency management officials in Guangdong.

Local disaster relief agencies confirmed that the evacuation was ordered after meteorological experts warned of potential storm surges and landslides that could endanger lives in coastal and mountainous areas. “Our priority is to safeguard lives and reduce casualties,” reported the Guangdong provincial government, emphasizing that schools were closed, flights were canceled, and transportation services were suspended in high-risk areas.

Typhoon Ragasa made landfall earlier this week in the Philippines, where authorities reported dozens of fatalities and thousands displaced from their homes. The Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council stated that widespread flooding and infrastructure damage had left several communities cut off, making relief operations challenging. The storm then continued its destructive path through Taiwan, where eyewitness reports indicated heavy flooding in several urban districts, leading to power outages and disruption of transport networks.

By the time Ragasa reached Hong Kong, the city’s Observatory raised its highest typhoon signal, as gale-force winds toppled trees and shattered windows in high-rise buildings. Local media reported that ferry services, stock market operations, and flights were all suspended for safety reasons. Emergency response teams were deployed across the city to clear debris and restore services as quickly as possible.

Now in Guangdong, Chinese authorities are bracing for the storm’s full impact. According to state media, nearly 80,000 emergency responders have been mobilized, while thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate evacuees. Farmers across the province have also been warned of heavy agricultural losses, with strong winds expected to devastate rice fields and orchards.

Meteorologists warn that Ragasa is likely to continue inland, bringing heavy rains across southern and central China over the coming days. Officials have urged citizens to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and comply with evacuation directives.

The full extent of damage across the affected countries is still being assessed, but international relief agencies have already begun mobilizing support. As one eye witness in Guangdong noted, “This storm feels stronger than any I have seen before. People are worried, but everyone is helping each other.”