The “super-typhoon” pounded the Philippines, Taiwan, and parts of southern China for 30 hours after making landfall at 5 p.m. Tuesday. At its peak, Macau raised Typhoon Signal No. 8, before lowering it to Signal No. 3 by 11 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the Macau Daily Times, Ragasa brought “more disruption than damage.” The storm triggered an almost complete shutdown of the territory, forcing residents into emergency shelters while schools, bridges, businesses, and Macau International Airport temporarily closed.
Winds reached nearly 200 km/h during the height of the storm, though flooding was less severe than forecast, rising about 1.5 meters in some low-lying areas. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported in Macau, but CNN said at least 17 people were killed in Taiwan.
Emergency operations praised
The Macau Daily Times reported that the Macau Civil Protection Operation Centre (COPC) earned strong praise for its handling of Typhoon Ragasa. The storm marked the first major test of the COPC, which was created in 2024 to strengthen the city’s emergency response capabilities.
Early forecasts had warned Ragasa might rival the devastation of previous storms such as Hato and Mangkhut. Typhoon Hato, which struck in August 2017, claimed 10 lives and injured more than 240 people. A year later, Mangkhut brought winds of 185 km/h, triggering severe flooding and extensive property damage.
With the worst now over, officials urged residents and visitors to remain cautious through Thursday. The government warned of continued heavy rain and thunderstorms, with winds “intermittently reaching Force 7 to 8” and gusts of up to 110 km/h.
