Super Typhoon Ragasa made landfall in the northeastern Philippines on Monday, bringing sustained winds matching a Category 5 hurricane. The storm has triggered extensive evacuations, school shutdowns, and hundreds of flight cancellations throughout the affected areas as it heads toward Hong Kong and mainland China.
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii, Ragasa's sustained winds reached 160 miles per hour, classifying it at the highest hurricane strength. The typhoon was expected to traverse Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island, where authorities issued warnings about potentially deadly conditions.
The Philippine weather agency predicted heavy rainfall exceeding 8 inches in northern regions, raising risks of flooding and landslides. Over 10,000 residents were evacuated, with schools and government offices closed in Manila and surrounding areas on Monday.
The storm is projected to continue westward, passing south of Taiwan en route to Hong Kong by Wednesday. Guangdong Province in southern China is also preparing for severe impacts and possible widespread damage.
Taiwan’s fire department reported evacuating approximately 3,500 residents from eastern and southern areas. Authorities closed several national parks and advised hikers to vacate the regions as a precaution.
Cathay Pacific announced the cancellation of over 500 flights, including all arrivals and departures at Hong Kong International Airport from 6 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Thursday local time. While the airport has not confirmed a full closure, Hong Kong’s education bureau declared schools will remain closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In Shenzhen, a city bordering Hong Kong, officials plan to evacuate 400,000 residents from flood-prone zones and have urged people to stock up on food supplies. Meanwhile, train services in Guangdong Province will be reduced starting Tuesday afternoon and completely halted by Wednesday to ensure safety.
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