ON Wednesday, Hong Kong braced for the full force of Super Typhoon Ragasa, enduring fierce winds, torrential rain, and high seas, while mourning the loss of at least 14 lives in Taiwan due to a typhoon-induced lake burst.
The Chinese financial hub experienced widespread disruption, with numerous fallen trees and flooding reported in at least two coastal neighborhoods. Buildings across the city swayed and rattled under the force of the strong winds. The Hong Kong Observatory issued its highest-level typhoon warning overnight, forecasting that Ragasa would come within 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the city on Wednesday morning.
The observatory warned of significant storm surges, with expected water level rises of two to three meters along the Hong Kong coast, particularly along the eastern and southern shores. In Taiwan, the bursting of a barrier lake, triggered by the typhoon’s heavy rainfall, resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people and left 18 injured, according to regional officials.
