A wall of water hurled through the glass doors of an up‑market Hong Kong hotel on Thursday afternoon, sending stunned guests and staff tumbling into a torrent that coursed through the lobby and out into the street. Video shared widely on social media and recovered from closed‑circuit cameras showed a sudden, roiling mass of brown water bursting forward, shattering glass and carrying people and furniture before emergency crews could reach the scene.

The incident was among the worst public images from Super Typhoon Ragasa, dubbed the “King of Storms,” which authorities said has left at least 14 people dead in Taiwan and more than 100 injured across Taiwan and Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s fire services reported multiple major incidents, including swift‑water rescues and collapsed scaffolding, while roads and subway lines were inundated and ferry and flight schedules were severely disrupted. Hundreds of travelers and commuters faced cancellations or delays as airports and terminals adjusted to conditions.

“We saw the water come through the doors like a train,” said one guest who was pulled from the lobby and treated at a local clinic. “It was a total wall — people were being swept across the marble floor. It happened in seconds.” Hospitals reported treating dozens for injuries ranging from lacerations to hypothermia; authorities said search and rescue operations continued into the night for those reported missing.

Police and city officials described the scene as chaotic and pledged investigations into building safety and emergency preparedness. “This is being treated as a major incident,” a Hong Kong police spokesman said. “Our immediate priorities are rescue, medical care and ensuring public safety. We will also examine whether any failures in protective measures contributed to what occurred.”

The dramatic lobby flooding has reignited debates over urban vulnerability. Architects and emergency planners say large glass facades and low‑lying ground floors, common in premium hotels and commercial buildings, can amplify risk during storm surges and flash flooding. “These structures are often designed for aesthetics and views but not for extreme hydraulic forces,” said an urban resilience expert. “When you combine heavy rainfall, high tides and a storm surge, the result can overwhelm conventional defenses.”

Economically, Ragasa’s impact is expected to be substantial. Tourism, already sensitive to extreme weather, faces immediate hits from damaged hotels, canceled events and the reputational shock of scenes like the hotel lobby. Port and logistics disruptions in Hong Kong and southern Taiwan threaten to ripple through regional supply chains for several days. Insurance analysts said claims could run into the hundreds of millions of dollars as property damage and business interruption are tallied; companies and investors will be watching closely for the final tab.

The storm also sits within a broader pattern that climate scientists caution against: warming seas are increasing the energy available to tropical cyclones, raising the odds of more intense, damaging storms even if overall frequency does not rise dramatically. That long‑term trend points to a growing need for tougher building standards, upgraded drainage systems, and clearer evacuation protocols — policy changes officials in the region now say they will review in the wake of Ragasa.

As rescue teams continued door‑to‑door checks and temporary shelters opened for displaced residents, officials urged caution and patience. “The recovery will take time,” the fire services commissioner said. “First we save lives, then we will assess the damage and learn lessons to prevent another day like this.”