Super Typhoon Ragasa is rapidly intensifying as it heads toward the Philippines, prompting authorities in both the Philippines and Taiwan to order evacuations in anticipation of severe flooding and landslides. The Philippine weather agency warned that the typhoon, moving westward, is expected to make landfall by Tuesday afternoon on the sparsely populated Batanes or Babuyan islands. At the storm’s center, maximum sustained winds reached 185 kilometres per hour, with gusts climbing up to 230 kmph, highlighting the extreme intensity of the approaching cyclone.
Philippine Interior Department Secretary Jonvic Remulla urged local officials to act swiftly in relocating families from high-risk areas to prevent casualties and damage. In Taiwan, authorities announced the evacuation of nearly 300 residents from Hualien County, though this number could change depending on the typhoon’s exact trajectory. The Central Weather Administration in Taiwan indicated that a land typhoon warning is expected to be issued overnight, with the storm approaching Taiwan’s offshore by early morning.
Weather experts in the Philippines, including John Grender Almario, predicted severe flooding and landslides in northern Luzon, cautioning that the storm’s most intense effects would be felt starting Sunday night and peaking by Tuesday morning. While areas beyond northern Luzon may also experience strong winds and heavy rain, Manila is expected to be largely spared, even as residents protested against a national flood control scandal involving billions of dollars lost to incomplete or “ghost” projects.
The Philippines, lying in the Pacific cyclone belt, faces roughly 20 storms or typhoons annually, leaving millions vulnerable to natural disasters amid persistent poverty. Climate scientists warn that rising global temperatures are intensifying storms, making cyclones like Ragasa more powerful than in previous decades. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Observatory cautioned that the financial hub would also experience deteriorating weather conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday, with strong winds and storm surges reminiscent of Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, underscoring the widespread regional threat posed by the typhoon.
