In the early hours of September 24, as Super Typhoon Ragasa closed in on Hong Kong, massive waves smashed through the glass entrance doors of the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel, sending seawater surging into the lobby and knocking people off their feet. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

The incident occurred around 5 a.m., when the storm was at its closest—about 100 km south of Hong Kong. At 2:40 a.m., the Hong Kong Observatory had issued the city’s highest alert, the No. 10 hurricane signal, warning of average wind speeds of 118 km/h and gusts exceeding 220 km/h.

Video footage shows waves breaching the hotel’s defences, shattering an entire row of glass doors in seconds as water poured inside. One person was swept off their feet but quickly helped to safety.

The hotel confirmed that no guests or staff were injured, adding that extra personnel were deployed to clear debris and manage storm impacts. The hotel remains in operation.

Classified as a Super Typhoon Rafasa, packed sustained winds of Force 16 (55 m/s). Across Hong Kong, the storm triggered flooding, fallen trees, and landslides. By the morning of the 24th, at least 19 people had been injured and over 700 residents had taken shelter in temporary centres.

In response, schools were closed citywide, public transport was suspended, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was shut, and public hospitals halted non-emergency services. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors, avoid coastal areas, and brace for rain and storm surges.

The Observatory noted that Rafasa's destructive power rivals that of Typhoon Hato (2017) and Typhoon Mangkhut (2018). Remarkably, it also marks the first time since 1964 that Hong Kong has issued two No. 10 signals in the same year.