Super Typhoon Ragasa Forces Mass Evacuations in Philippines, Threatens Southern China

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

---

Image Source: Kelly Ng, Getty Images

Thousands of people have been evacuated in the Philippines after Super Typhoon Ragasa, described by officials as potentially “catastrophic,” made landfall in the country’s north on Monday.

The Philippine weather authority confirmed that Ragasa struck Panuitan Island in Cagayan province at 3 p.m. local time (08:00 GMT), unleashing wind gusts of up to 230 km/h (143 mph). Classified as the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, the storm is now moving westward and is expected to approach southern China later this week.

The typhoon has raised alarms over life-threatening storm surges exceeding three meters (10 feet), widespread flooding, and landslides. Authorities have warned that homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods are at severe risk. Schools and government offices, including those in the capital Manila, were closed as a precaution.

Particularly vulnerable are the Batanes and Babuyan islands, with a combined population of about 20,000 residents, many of whom live in poverty. These northern islands were directly in the storm’s path. Meanwhile, Taiwan, located roughly 740 kilometers away, has begun evacuations in eastern Hualien county, though Ragasa is not expected to make landfall there. Authorities have closed nature trails, forest areas, and suspended some ferry services as the island braces for heavy rainfall.

China has also begun large-scale preparations. Authorities in Guangdong province warned residents to expect “catastrophic” impacts, with Shenzhen planning to evacuate 400,000 people ahead of the storm’s arrival. In Hong Kong, officials cautioned that weather conditions will “deteriorate rapidly” on Tuesday. Cathay Pacific announced the cancellation of 500 flights, while Hong Kong Airlines suspended all departures from the city.

Ragasa’s arrival compounds difficulties in the Philippines, where communities are still grappling with severe flooding linked to weeks of intense monsoon rains. The disaster also comes amid mounting public anger, with tens of thousands protesting on Sunday against government corruption blamed for inadequate flood control systems.

As Ragasa barrels across East and Southeast Asia, regional authorities continue to issue urgent warnings, stressing that swift preparations and mass evacuations are crucial to minimizing the storm’s potentially devastating toll.