Super Typhoon Ragasa Makes Landfall In The Philippines, Threatens Southeast Asia

The Philippines and neighboring Asian nations are bracing for Super Typhoon Ragasa, believed to be the year’s most powerful storm.

According to the Associated Press, the Philippines classifies Ragasa as a “super typhoon” because its sustained winds are 115 miles per hour (mph) or higher. The source noted that, according to the country’s forecasters, Ragasa hit the small island of Panuitan on September 22 with sustained winds of 134 mph.

It reportedly hit Panuitan Island on Monday in the mid-afternoon, local time. Several other sources reported that the typhoon hit the Philippines’ nearby Calayan Island. Super Typhoon Ragasa is also being called Typhoon Nando.

PAGASA, the Philippines’ weather agency, reported that those in Cagayan, Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur should be warned about “a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) within the next 24 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities.”

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. confirmed evacuations and the Philippine government’s monitoring of the situation on X September 22. A translation of his statement noted that as of the time of his post, heavy rain hadn’t started, but there were “strong winds.” He also shared that the government was working to “immediately” address the needs of those in evacuation centers.

In certain areas such as northern provinces and Manila — the Philippines’ capital — classes, government work, flights, fishing, and ferries have been suspended.

What Else Is There To Know About Super Typhoon Ragasa?

A typhoon is a tropical cyclone — the same kind of storm system that is called a hurricane in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific.

Ragasa is expected to venture and ravage throughout the South China Sea, reaching Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Guangdong province of southern mainland China. Shenzhen, located in Guangdong, is reportedly evacuating 400,000 people and temporarily suspending flights at its local airport. Additionally, according to the Hong Kong Free Press, Taiwan is anticipating that Ragasa will bring “extremely torrential rain” to its east side.

Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific Airways reportedly expects around 500 flight cancellations due to Ragasa.

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