JAKARTA - Typhoon Ragasa, the world's strongest tropical cyclone this year, hit tens of millions of people in southern China after killing 14 people in Taiwan. Typhoon super Ragasa caused many people to disappear, and hit Hong Kong with strong winds and heavy rains.
About 129 people were missing in the Hualien region, eastern Taiwan, after the lake overflowed and sent flooding to the city, Taiwanese firefighters said.
Many residents in the tourist city of Guangfu have complained about the lack of warning from Taiwanese authorities, who are accustomed to evacuating residents from potential hazard zones quickly on islands often hit by typhoons.
As heavy rains flushed Taiwan, Hong Kong grappled with major waves hitting the eastern and southern coastal areas of Asia's financial centers, breaking into heavy flows flowing along the sidewalks and submerging several roads beside residential properties.
At theiliton hotel south of the island, videos on social media showed heavy sea water breaking through the glass door before flooding the hotel floor.
Reported by Reuters on Wednesday, September 24, Chinese maritime authorities issued the highest "red" wave warning for the first time this year, forecasting a storm wave of up to 2.8 meters (9 feet) in several areas of Guangdong province, as Ragasa moves towards the densely populated Delta Sungai Mutiara.
Typhoon Ragasa formed in the Western Pacific Ocean last week. Driven by warm seas and favorable atmospheric conditions, the tropical cyclone quickly rose to a super typhoon Category 5 on Monday with wind speeds exceeding 260 km/hour (162 mph).
Since then, the typhoon has weakened to a typhoon Category 3, which is still able to knock down trees and power lines, break windows, and damage buildings.
"The authorities have learned from Hato and Mangkhut, both of which caused billions of dollars in damage in 2017 and 2018," said Chim Lee, a senior energy specialist and climate change at the Economist Intelligence Unit.
"Delta Sungai Mutiara is one of the areas most prepared to face a typhoon, so we didn't expect any major disruption. One of the changes this year is that the Hong Kong stock market remains open during the typhoon, a sign of how tough the infrastructure will be," he added.
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