Super Typhoon Ragasa is the most powerful storm of 2025 to have hit East Asia with a wind
of over 260 km/h. The eastern coast of Taiwan, especially Hualien, was affected, and at least 15 people were killed, and severe flooding was reported in various counties. The outer bands of the storm also caused floods in Hong Kong, as well as in southern China,and a barrier lake broke its floods, washing away dozens of houses. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Bualoi hit the Philippines, killing three people and displacing thousands of others.
Scientists caution that increasing sea temperatures are powering up stronger cyclones in the Pacific, and that there is an urgent appeal that climate resilience action should be taken. The two back-to-back catastrophes underscore the increasing susceptibility of Asia to extreme weather caused by climate change.
