Storm impacts and science signals

Asia weathered a brutal one-two punch as Super Typhoon Ragasa and Tropical Storm Bualoi caused deadly floods, power outages and landslides across Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Satellite images showed a barrier lake near Hualien swelling rapidly before a destructive overflow, while emergency teams battled inundation in coastal districts. Climatologists cited record-warm seas and moist air columns that turbocharged rainfall and wind speeds. With grocery logistics and port schedules disrupted, governments urged residents to stock essentials and heed evacuation orders.

Resilience lessons and policy responses

Disaster officials are accelerating slope stabilization, early-warning upgrades and microgrid pilots to keep clinics powered during blackouts. Insurers warned of rising catastrophe premiums without better building codes and land-use enforcement. At Climate Week NYC, leaders from vulnerable states pressed for faster finance flows and debt relief tied to resilience metrics. Urban planners say cities must add blue-green infrastructure and protect natural buffers, or face mounting repair bills after each storm.