Zhuhai, Guangdong — On 24 September 2025, super Typhoon Ragasa unleashed severe flooding across Zhuhai and surrounding coastal regions of southern China, sweeping away roads, inundating neighborhoods, and forcing mass evacuations. The Pearl River Delta city, just across from Macao, bore the brunt of storm surges and heavy rain as wind-whipped waves crashed into low-lying districts, tearing away debris and overwhelming drainage systems.
Authorities say wind speeds of up to 212 km/h were recorded in Zhuhai as torrential downpours — totaling from 25 to 45 cm in some zones — caused rivers and storm drains to overflow. Streets became rivers overnight; vehicles were submerged or carried away, and many ground-floor homes were flooded within minutes as water surged through doorways.
Big sections of Zhuhai came to a standstill: businesses shuttered, transportation ground to a halt, and roadways became impassable with fallen tree limbs and mudslides. In some neighborhoods, residents scrambled to higher floors or waded through waist-deep waters. Emergency responders, including firefighters and police units, raced to rescue those trapped in rising floods.
In anticipation of the typhoon’s landfall, Guangdong province ordered the relocation of nearly 1.9 million residents from high-risk areas and suburban flood zones. Temporary shelters were established in schools and public facilities; relief teams deployed drones and patrol vessels for search and rescue missions.
Elsewhere in the region, the storm has already exacted a heavy toll: in Taiwan, at least 17 people died after a barrier lake burst in Hualien County, sending torrents of water cascading down into townships. In Hong Kong, powerful surf and wind smashed into promenades and residential areas, flooding low-lying districts and injuring dozens.
Local authorities in Zhuhai and the broader Guangdong region remain on high alert as the typhoon progresses inland. Officials warn of landslides, further flash flooding, and damage to infrastructure as storm systems push further west toward Maoming and beyond.
In the wake of the deluge, residents face a daunting task: clearing wreckage, restoring utilities, and accounting for those still uncontacted. The immediate focus now is rescue, relief, and preventing secondary hazards such as contamination, power outages, and structural collapse.
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