Super Typhoon Ragas, the strongest tropical cyclone of the year, reached southern China on Wednesday after leaving a trail of destruction across Asia. The storm has already claimed 17 lives in Taiwan, battered Hong Kong with heavy rain and strong winds, and caused 12 fatalities in India due to severe weather conditions.

In Hualien, eastern Taiwan, authorities reported that 17 people remain missing following the overflow of a lake that flooded a local town. The typhoon has been bringing torrential rains to the island since Monday, causing widespread damage.

Residents of the tourist town of Guangfu criticized Taiwanese authorities for insufficient warnings, despite the government’s usual practice of evacuating high-risk areas during typhoon season.

Chinese maritime authorities have issued a red-level warning, the highest alert of the year, as the typhoon approaches the country’s southern coastline.