Typhoon Ragasa made landfall on the coast of Hailin Island, off Yangjiang city in Guangdong province, around 5 p.m. today, according to local meteorological authorities. At the time of landfall, Ragasa was a category 13 typhoon with sustained winds near 145 km/h.

The ferocious winds, lasting several hours, ravaged the city of over two million people, uprooting trees, destroying fences, and tearing down signs. Numerous neighborhoods were left without power in the typhoon's wake.

Residents clear a fallen iron gate after Typhoon Ragasa in Yangjiang, Guangdong province, on 24/9. Photo: AFP

Residents clear a fallen iron gate after Typhoon Ragasa in Yangjiang, Guangdong province, on 24/9. Photo: AFP

"I was incredibly worried. The storm was terrifying, wasn't it? I was worried about how to take care of the children when the storm hit," said Huang Ze, 42, who works in Yangjiang.

Ze's home lost power during the typhoon, and he prepared pocket flashlights so his family could have dinner.

Locals reported that the usually bustling Yangjiang railway station was deserted, as rail traffic was suspended across the province due to the storm. Nearly two million people in Guangdong were evacuated ahead of the typhoon, according to the provincial emergency management department.

Fallen branches litter the street in front of a restaurant in Yangjiang on 24/9. Photo: Xinhua

Fallen branches litter the street in front of a restaurant in Yangjiang on 24/9. Photo: Xinhua

At a grocery store in Yangjiang, residents carefully stepped through the narrow opening of a metal door downed by the storm. Inside, the shop owner placed candles to illuminate the store for customers buying essential supplies during the power outage.

"The storm was huge," said 74-year-old Ms. Vuong. She said her home lost power when the typhoon hit. Later, she discovered her family's shop was also significantly damaged.

"Someone called my son and told him the shop had been damaged by the storm. I went outside and saw everything was in ruins," she said.

An overturned truck lies on its side after Typhoon Ragasa in Yangjiang, Guangdong province, on 24/9. Photo: AFP

An overturned truck lies on its side after Typhoon Ragasa in Yangjiang, Guangdong province, on 24/9. Photo: AFP

Ragasa previously swept through Taiwan, bringing heavy rains that caused a reservoir to burst upstream of the Mataian River. Floodwaters carrying debris rushed downstream, washing away a bridge over the river and causing widespread flooding in several towns, submerging homes and sweeping away vehicles. Taiwan's fire department reported 17 deaths due to the typhoon.

Southern China is forecast to experience heavy rain and strong winds from the typhoon until 26/9, with particularly heavy rainfall expected in parts of the Pearl River Delta and coastal Guangdong.

Thanh Tam (AFP, China Daily, CNN)