PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten chapter of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation has launched a cash‐only donation drive in support of victims of Typhoon Ragasa in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
All funds collected locally will be sent directly to Tzu Chi Headquarters in Taiwan for coordinated relief efforts, including emergency cash aid, hot meals, blankets, shelter, and other assistance.
Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest storms of 2025, left a path of destruction across East Asia. The typhoon caused flooding, damage to infrastructure, and the loss of lives: Taiwan revised its death toll to 14. In the Philippines, Ragasa struck northern Luzon, killing at least 11 people and damaging homes and farms. Hong Kong and southern China also suffered extensive flooding, injuries, and transportation disruptions.
The storm’s impact was felt broadly. In Hong Kong, the city issued its highest-level storm warning (T10), shuttered schools and businesses for more than 36 hours, and reported more than 100 injuries. In China’s Guangdong province, over 2 million people were evacuated ahead of Ragasa’s landfall, which battered coastal cities including Yangjiang and Zhuhai.
Ragasa had earlier struck Taiwan, where a decades-old barrier lake burst under heavy rains, triggering floods and landslides, especially in Hualien County. The storm was later downgraded as it moved into northeastern Vietnam, where threats of flash flooding and landslides remain.
In St. Maarten, the Tzu Chi collection drive underscores the local community’s response to global disaster. The appeal emphasizes that every dollar counts in bringing “love, care, and hope across the seas.” Donations are to be made to Tzu Chi’s WIB US account (# 21932201) in the name of Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation.
As East Asia now undertakes cleanup, rescue, and reconstruction efforts, the inflow of international humanitarian support—including cash assistance from affiliates such as St. Maarten’s Tzu Chi branch—will play a critical role in helping thousands recover from the typhoon’s devastating effects.
