Fierce winds, pounding rain and rough seas battered southern China on Wednesday as powerful Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in Guangdong province after killing at least 14 in Taiwan.

Ragasa churned into Guangdong, home to tens of millions of people, with winds up to 145 kilometers per hour.

AFP journalists at the impact point in the city of Yangjiang saw flying debris and gusts ripping advertisements off buildings.