HANOI, Vietnam — Sept-25-2025, 14:00 EDT

Typhoon Ragasa weakened into a tropical depression early Thursday after moving into northeastern Vietnam, but authorities cautioned that the storm will continue to bring heavy rainfall and flood risks across northern provinces. Although its winds dropped significantly, officials urged caution as the system remains a threat to infrastructure, agriculture, and communities in vulnerable areas.

Storm Weakens but Rainfall Threat Persists

By Thursday afternoon, Ragasa’s maximum sustained winds had slowed to 55 kilometers per hour (34 mph), according to Vietnam’s national weather agency. Meteorologists forecast the storm to gradually dissipate but warned it could still dump large amounts of rain in northern and central Vietnam.

Local governments were placed on alert for flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging in low-lying regions. Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính instructed ministries to safeguard dams, hospitals, and essential infrastructure while coordinating evacuation plans and search-and-rescue teams.

Preparedness Measures Across Northern Vietnam

Airlines canceled or rescheduled flights, while local crews cut down tree branches to reduce hazards from gusty winds. Fishing vessels were secured in harbors, and emergency response teams were mobilized to assist residents in at-risk zones.

The government emphasized proactive disaster prevention, noting that communities in mountainous and river-adjacent areas face the highest risks of flooding and landslides.

Another Storm on the Horizon

Even as Ragasa weakens, regional forecasters are tracking another tropical system. Storm Bualoi, named Opong in the Philippines, is expected to make landfall in the eastern and central Philippines on Friday. With sustained winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour (68 mph) and stronger gusts, it could intensify before potentially moving toward central Vietnam or the country’s northeast coastline.

Officials said monitoring efforts are underway to prepare for the possibility of consecutive storms hitting the region.

Impact in China’s Guangdong Province

Before reaching Vietnam, Ragasa caused widespread damage in southern China. In Yangjiang city, more than 10,000 trees were damaged, and streets were submerged under floodwaters. Excavators were deployed to clear debris and reopen blocked roads, local outlet Yangjiang Daily reported.

Nearly half a million households lost power across Guangdong province, with a third still without electricity by Thursday morning, according to state media. In Zhuhai city, floodwaters turned residential neighborhoods into canals, forcing rescuers to use inflatable boats to reach stranded residents.

Communication lines with some islands in Jiangmen city were also cut, Southern Weekly noted, leaving officials scrambling to restore access.

Emergency Response Across Southern China

In neighboring Guangxi region, authorities closed schools, halted tourism activities, and suspended businesses in several cities as precautionary measures. Ahead of Ragasa’s landfall, more than two million residents were relocated across Guangdong, according to government data.

At its peak on Monday, Ragasa reached supertyphoon strength with winds of 265 kilometers per hour (165 mph), making it the world’s most powerful cyclone of 2025 to date.

Gradual Return to Normal in Hong Kong and Shenzhen

In Hong Kong, where more than 1,200 trees were toppled earlier in the week, cleanup operations continued Thursday. Streets remained littered with large branches even as flights resumed after disruptions that affected nearly 140,000 passengers. About 100 people were hospitalized due to storm-related injuries, local authorities reported.

Businesses in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen reopened, with transport and commercial activity steadily returning to normal after days of shutdowns.

Taiwan Reports Severe Losses

Taiwan’s authorities revised the country’s death toll to 14 after confirming duplicate counts in earlier reports. Most fatalities occurred in Hualien County, where torrential rainfall caused a barrier lake to overflow, flooding Guangfu township. The deluge destroyed a bridge and swept away vehicles and household items.

President Lai Ching-te visited Hualien on Thursday, offering condolences to victims’ families and pledging government support for recovery. Dozens of people remain unaccounted for, and more than 40 were injured during the storm, officials said.

Death Toll in the Philippines

In the Philippines, Ragasa left at least 11 people dead, including seven fishermen who drowned when their boat capsized in Cagayan province. Local authorities said two fishermen remain missing as search operations continue.

Regional Storm Preparedness Remains Crucial

Authorities across Southeast Asia are emphasizing long-term disaster preparedness as climate change continues to intensify storms in the region. Vietnam’s disaster management officials stressed that effective coordination, early evacuation, and infrastructure protection remain critical in minimizing damage from severe weather events.

Source: AP News –Ragasa weakens but brings heavy rain and flood risk to northern Vietnam

The post Vietnam Faces Heavy Rains as Typhoon Ragasa Weakens to Tropical Depression appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Published: September-23-2025, 14:00 EDT

A powerful storm system, Typhoon Ragasa, is moving toward southern China after battering the northern Philippines with destructive winds, flooding, and landslides. The storm has already caused significant damage, forced mass evacuations, and disrupted transport across Asia as authorities in Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou prepare for impact.

Destructive Path Across the Philippines

Typhoon Ragasa, known locally in the Philippines as Nando, made landfall on Panuitan Island in Cagayan Province earlier this week as a super typhoon with sustained winds exceeding 165 mph (267 kph), the strength of a Category 5 hurricane.

The storm triggered widespread destruction, including damaged homes, uprooted trees, and blocked roads, according to the Philippines Information Agency (PIA). Landslides and flash floods were reported across northern Luzon, while the outer bands lashed nearby provinces with torrential rain.

Rescue operations remain underway. In Cagayan, three people died after a fishing boat capsized in rough waters, six survivors were pulled to safety, and four individuals remain missing. Meanwhile, a landslide in Benguet claimed one life and left several others injured.

Local resident Orlando Bartolome Labio told CNN the storm’s impact on agriculture has been devastating. “Among the most affected are the farmers, including my parents. It’s a very sad event,” he said.

Evacuations and Emergency Response

The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council confirmed that more than 24,000 residents were evacuated across northern and central Luzon. Heavy rain advisories remain in effect as Ragasa’s outer bands continue to affect large areas, raising fears of further flooding and landslides.

Images from Calayan and Camiguin Islands show roofs torn from homes, boats washed ashore, and streets inundated with seawater. Videos shared by the Philippines Coast Guard depict rescue teams assisting stranded families and clearing debris from mudslides.

Despite weakening slightly to Category 4 strength, Ragasa remains highly dangerous with sustained winds of 140 mph (222 kph). Meteorologists expect continued rainfall and possible landslides as the storm moves across the South China Sea.

Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China on High Alert

Authorities in southern China have raised emergency alerts as Typhoon Ragasa approaches Guangdong Province. Entire megacities are bracing for disruption, with schools suspended, public transport halted, and workplaces closed.

In Shenzhen, officials announced the planned relocation of 400,000 residents from low-lying and coastal areas. Guangzhou, a city of 18.6 million people, is expected to declare its highest-level red alert. The Hong Kong Observatory warned of storm surges reaching up to four meters in some areas, describing the potential ocean swells as “phenomenal.”

Across Hong Kong and southern China, supermarkets have seen shelves emptied as residents stockpile essentials. The massive Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge has also been closed until conditions improve.

Widespread Flight Disruptions

Air travel across the region has been heavily affected. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific suspended all passenger flights departing and arriving in the city from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning. Hong Kong Airlines also announced dozens of flight cancellations for the week.

Taiwan, Hong Kong, and multiple airports in Guangdong Province reported hundreds of delayed or canceled flights as Ragasa’s outer bands disrupted regional air traffic.

Storm Expected to Weaken but Remains Dangerous

Satellite images from the International Space Station captured the scale of Ragasa as it churned through the South China Sea. Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui shared images showing the storm’s vast size as it continued its west-northwest track.

According to the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Ragasa is expected to weaken gradually as it approaches mainland China, potentially making landfall in western Guangdong Province by Wednesday evening local time. Forecasts suggest it may downgrade to the strength of a Category 3 hurricane with winds near 115 mph (185 kph).

Despite the projected weakening, officials caution that Ragasa still poses serious risks, including heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides across southern China.

Regional Preparedness and Recovery Efforts

Emergency crews in both the Philippines and China are focused on mitigating the storm’s impact. In the Philippines, recovery operations are underway in affected provinces, while in southern China, mass evacuation and response plans remain in effect to protect millions of residents.

The storm’s progression highlights the vulnerability of coastal regions across Southeast and East Asia to increasingly intense tropical cyclones. Authorities stress continued vigilance, urging residents in high-risk areas to follow evacuation orders and remain prepared for extended disruptions.

Source: CNN –Hong Kong, southern China brace for powerful Typhoon Ragasa after it batters the Philippines

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