A Hong Kong mother and her five-year-old son have been in critical condition after they were swept into the sea during Super Typhoon Ragasa, according to the city’s authorities.
As of 10am on Wednesday, the mother, 38, remained in critical condition as she was treated in the intensive care unit at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, the government’s Information Services Department (ISD) told HKFP. As of Tuesday night, the boy was also in critical condition at the same hospital.
The mother and son were unconscious when they were sent to the hospital after being rescued from the sea in Chai Wan at around 3.25pm on Tuesday, when the T8 warning signal was in force as Ragasa neared Hong Kong.
The woman’s husband, 40, was in serious condition at the same hospital on Tuesday night after he jumped into the water in an attempt to save the pair, the ISD told HKFP.
Police said the family was watching waves at the waterfront when they were swept into the sea.
Ragasa brought Hong Kong to a halt after the city’s Observatory raised its highest storm warning signal, T10, at 2.40am on Wednesday.
The T10 signal lasted throughout Wednesday morning and was replaced by T8 at 1.20pm, as the storm gradually moved away from Hong Kong.
The super typhoon brought torrential rain and large storm surges, with the city’s coastal neighbourhoods like Tseung Kwan O and Heng Fa Chuen among the hardest hit.
See also: HKFP Lens: Super Typhoon Ragasa ravages Hong Kong – Part 1
The Observatory said in a notice at 1.45pm that the T8 signal is expected to remain in force until 8pm on Wednesday, warning of adverse weather throughout the day.
“Local weather will still be adverse today with frequent heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. Seas will be high with swells. There will be overtopping waves over the shoreline,” the weather service said. It urged residents to stay away from the shoreline.
According to a government statement, as of noon, various departments had received a total of 437 reports of fallen trees, 15 reports of flooding, and one report of a landslide.
At least 62 people – 37 men and 25 women – were injured during the typhoon as of noon. They received medical treatment at the emergency rooms of various public hospitals, the Hospital Authority said.
Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Department has opened 50 temporary shelters in various districts, with 816 people seeking refuge as of 11am.
Typhoon Signal 8
When the No. 8 signal is issued, gale or storm force winds are affecting, or expected to affect, Hong Kong.
- The Hong Kong Observatory will make a special announcement within two hours before the signal is hoisted. Most offices and businesses will then close and people without special reasons for staying out are expected to go home.
- All school classes and most government services will halt.
- Ferry services will give notice as to when they will stop running, while most bus routes will halt within two hours after the signal is issued.
- MTR trains will run normally unless weather conditions worsen.
- Citizens should return home or stay in a safe place, and avoid low-lying areas likely to be flooded.
- Temporary shelters will be opened in government buildings for people with no safe refuge.
Observatory signals currently in force
- Cold Weather Warning was issued at 16:20 HKT (5 Jan 2026)
- Red Fire Danger Warning was issued at 06:00 HKT (5 Jan 2026)
Climate crisis
Tropical cyclones – which get their energy from warm ocean water – are strengthening and become ever more destructive because of warming seas. Over 90 per cent of excess heat in the atmosphere is ending up in oceans, according to NASA, as rising greenhouse gases prevent it from escaping to space.
