Super Typhoon Ragasa Heads for Philippines

Super Typhoon Ragasa, with winds reaching 230 km/h, is set to hit the northern Philippines on Monday, prompting widespread evacuations, school closures, and flight cancellations, while also threatening Taiwan, Hong Kong, and southern China.

Super Typhoon Ragasa, packing wind gusts of up to 230 km/h, is expected to strike the northern islands of the Philippines on Monday, bringing the threat of catastrophic storm surges, landslides, and widespread flooding. Authorities have issued urgent warnings, emphasising that preparation is the country’s only defence against the approaching storm.

In anticipation of the typhoon, schools and government offices across the Philippines, including the capital Manila, have been closed, while residents have been urged to evacuate vulnerable areas. Local disaster management agencies are monitoring rivers and coastal zones closely, warning that torrential rain could trigger deadly landslides in mountainous regions.

The typhoon is also affecting neighbouring territories. Taiwan and Hong Kong have extended evacuation orders, with airlines cancelling numerous flights in anticipation of the severe weather. Shipping and ferry services in the South China Sea have been suspended to reduce risks to vessels at sea.

Meteorologists warn that Ragasa, as it tracks north-westward towards southern China, could maintain dangerous wind speeds and heavy rainfall, raising concerns for urban flooding and infrastructure damage in coastal areas. Emergency response teams are on high alert, with authorities coordinating relief efforts and pre-positioning supplies to minimise the storm’s impact.

The Philippine government has urged citizens to remain indoors, follow official guidance, and prepare emergency kits, stressing that rapid response and community awareness could save lives. With seas swelling and winds intensifying, Ragasa stands as a stark reminder of the destructive power of nature and the importance of timely disaster preparedness.