Typhoon Ragasa Unleashes Fury on Hong Kong: Waves Crash Through Hotel Doors

Typhoon Ragasa Brings Destruction to Hong Kong: Waves Smash Through Hotel Doors HONG KONG - September 24, 2025 - Super Typhoon Ragasa, one of the most powerful storms of 2025, brought widespread destruction to Hong Kong on Wednesday, with waves crashing through the doors of the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel in a dramatic display of the storm's fury. Video footage captured by eyewitnesses shows massive waves smashing through the coastal entrance of the hotel, flooding the lobby and sweeping staff off their feet. The powerful storm surge was so strong that it ripped through the reinforced doors, causing significant damage to the hotel's interior. "It was like nothing I've ever seen before," said a hotel employee, who wished to remain anonymous. "The waves just kept coming, and we had to evacuate immediately. It was terrifying." Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in Hong Kong at around 2:00 AM local time on Wednesday, bringing with it sustained winds of up to 160 km/h (100 mph) and heavy rainfall. The storm's powerful storm surge caused widespread flooding along the city's coastline, with waves reaching as high as 4 meters (13 feet) in some areas. According to the Hong Kong Observatory, Typhoon Ragasa is a Category 5-equivalent storm, with winds equivalent to those of a hurricane. The storm's impact was felt across the city, with thousands of residents forced to evacuate their homes and businesses disrupted due to power outages. The hotel's management has confirmed that several staff members were injured during the incident, but no fatalities have been reported. Background and Context Typhoon Ragasa is one of the most powerful storms to hit Hong Kong in recent years. The storm's impact was exacerbated by the city's coastal geography, with waves crashing against the shore and causing widespread flooding. The hotel's design and construction were also factors in the severity of the damage. The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel is a luxury resort located on the coast of Hong Kong, with rooms and facilities designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. Additional Perspectives Experts say that Typhoon Ragasa highlights the need for more robust infrastructure and emergency preparedness measures in Hong Kong. "The storm surge was so powerful that it exceeded even the most conservative estimates," said Dr. Jane Lee, a coastal engineer at the University of Hong Kong. "This incident serves as a wake-up call for us to rethink our approach to coastal protection and emergency planning." Current Status and Next Developments The Hong Kong government has declared a state of emergency in response to the storm, with rescue efforts underway to evacuate stranded residents and restore power and communication services. As the city begins to recover from the devastation, officials are already looking ahead to future storms. The Hong Kong Observatory has announced plans to upgrade its storm warning system, using advanced technology to provide more accurate and timely warnings for residents. In the meantime, residents are advised to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders as necessary. As one resident noted, "We've learned a valuable lesson from this storm - we must always be prepared for the unexpected." *Reporting by Aljazeera.*