Guests at a luxury hotel in Hong Kong were left terrified when floodwaters burst through its glass doors during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Ragasa. The dramatic moment was caught on video, showing torrents of seawater shattering the entrance of the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel in Aberdeen, sweeping staff and visitors off their feet.
The violent surge was too strong for the sandbags and protective barriers placed outside. At one point, a man who tried to cling to a panda-themed cardboard display was dragged away by the force of the water before being helped up by another guest. The hotel later assured the public that the safety of its guests and staff remained its top priority.
Ragasa, described as the most powerful storm of 2025, reached sustained winds of up to 270 km/h — the equivalent of a Category 5 cyclone. As it passed through Hong Kong and Taiwan before striking Guangdong province in southern China, the typhoon left a trail of destruction, killing at least 14 in Taiwan and injuring more than 100 across the region.
Widespread Damage Across Hong Kong and Guangdong
In Hong Kong, authorities confirmed that 90 people were injured during the storm, with over 860 residents seeking shelter in temporary facilities. Floodwaters inundated low-lying neighbourhoods, uprooted hundreds of trees, and caused severe disruption across the city. Residents described scenes of chaos, with tall buildings swaying under the force of the wind and seawater rushing into coastal estates.
Flights in and out of Hong Kong were heavily disrupted, with the Airport Authority announcing hundreds of cancellations. Public transport also ground to a halt as debris, flooding, and fallen trees blocked key routes. Macau, too, suffered significant flooding, with authorities suspending power in vulnerable areas.
Across the border in Guangdong province, China relocated nearly 2.2 million people to safer ground. Cities such as Yangjiang faced violent winds that ripped advertisements from buildings, toppled motorbikes, and forced businesses and schools to close. Train services across the region were suspended as officials scrambled to keep residents safe.
Rising Concerns Over Stronger Storms
Scientists have long warned that climate change is intensifying tropical cyclones, making them stronger and more destructive. Typhoon Ragasa has become a sobering reminder of the vulnerability of densely populated coastal cities like Hong Kong, Macau, and southern China to extreme weather.
Chinese state media reported that about S$68 million has been set aside to aid rescue and relief efforts. Despite these measures, thousands remain displaced, with many families spending nights in temporary shelters as they wait for floodwaters to recede.
For those caught in the path of Ragasa, such as the hotel guests in Aberdeen, the experience was nothing short of a nightmare — a sudden, violent reminder of nature’s unforgiving power.