Manila, September 22 - Super Typhoon Ragasa has emerged as a formidable force in the Western Pacific, capturing global attention as it barrels through the northern Philippines and sets its sights on southern China. As of Monday, September 22, 2025, the storm has intensified to a Category 5 equivalent, boasting sustained winds of 180 miles per hour and a record-low central pressure of 905 millibars. This typhoon’s colossal eye, which has engulfed Babuyan Island, has left approximately 1,900 residents in an eerie calm, surrounded by devastating wind gusts exceeding 200 miles per hour. The storm’s unprecedented strength, coupled with its expansive wind field, has triggered widespread evacuations and heightened alerts across the region, underscoring the urgent need for preparedness as it continues its westward trajectory.
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The impact of Super Typhoon Ragasa extends beyond the Philippines, with significant preparations underway in Hong Kong as the storm approaches. Hong Kong International Airport has announced a 36-hour shutdown of all passenger flights, effective from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning, marking the longest closure in the airport’s recent history. This decision reflects the severity of the approaching super typhoon, which the Hong Kong Observatory has classified with sustained winds of 143 miles per hour near its core, comparable to a Category 4 hurricane. The city is bracing for gale-force to storm-force winds, with potential hurricane-force gusts offshore and on high ground, prompting residents to stockpile essentials amid rising prices for food and supplies. This level of disruption highlights the challenges faced by densely populated urban centers when confronted with extreme weather events.
In the Philippines, the typhoon’s landfall has already caused significant disruption, with authorities raising the highest alert levels for the Babuyan Islands and ordering evacuations across multiple provinces. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has suspended classes and government work as heavy rains, exacerbated by the enhanced southwest monsoon, threaten widespread flooding and landslides. The storm’s outer rainbands have begun lashing Luzon, leading to the cancellation of domestic flights and the suspension of ferry services, while coastal regions face the risk of life-threatening storm surges exceeding 10 feet. This situation mirrors past typhoon seasons, where inadequate infrastructure and rapid urbanization have amplified the vulnerability of local communities, necessitating robust disaster response strategies.
As Super Typhoon Ragasa moves toward southern China, regional authorities are mobilizing to mitigate its potential impact. In Guangdong province, preparations are underway to address the anticipated “catastrophic” and “large-scale disaster,” with plans to evacuate hundreds of thousands of residents. Taiwan, though not directly in the storm’s path, is experiencing heavy rains from its outer bands, prompting the cancellation of domestic flights and the evacuation of over 900 people from mountainous areas. The typhoon’s trajectory and intensity serve as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and strength of tropical cyclones, driven by rising ocean temperatures. With its effects rippling across East and Southeast Asia, Ragasa underscores the critical importance of early warning systems, coordinated evacuations, and resilient infrastructure to safeguard lives and property in the face of escalating climate challenges.