‘World’s most powerful cyclone’ soaks Hong Kong; 14 killed in Taiwan
REUTERS: Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone this year, lashed Hong Kong with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain on Wednesday, while heavy downpours in Taiwan resulted in the deaths of 14 people.
A barrier lake in Taiwan’s eastern Hualien county overflowed and sent a wall of water into a town, as heavy rains from Ragasa battered the island, the Taiwan fire department said on Wednesday.
Taiwan has been hit since Monday by the outer rim of Ragasa, which has brought torrential rains to the island.
In Hong Kong, huge waves crashed over areas of the Asian financial hub’s eastern and southern shoreline, submerging some roads alongside residential properties.
At the Fullerton hotel on the island’s south, videos on social media showed a torrent of seawater surged through its glass doors before flooding the floor area. Calls to the property remained unanswered on Wednesday.
In teeming Tseung Kwan O, built largely on reclaimed land, huge waves submersed swathes of waterfront promenade adjacent to towering residential towers.
At outlying islands including Lantau, home to the city’s international airport, widespread flooding was seen, swamping beaches and vegetation.
“Areas which were previously sheltered may become exposed…seas will be phenomenal with swells,” the observatory said.
Ragasa, packing winds of up to 200 kph (124 mph), will be closest to the city in the next few hours, around 100km (60 miles) south of the densely populated territory.
