China has begun preparations to evacuate 400,000 people from the city of Shenzhen as Super Typhoon Ragasa barrels toward southern China. Meanwhile, residents in northern Philippines faced destructive winds and heavy rain as the powerful storm made landfall. Ragasa hit Calayan Island at 3 p.m. Monday, with sustained winds of 215 kph and gusts up to 295 kph. Filipino authorities evacuated over 10,000 people, closed schools and offices, and warned of potential landslides and severe flooding.
Local residents in Cagayan province described terrifying conditions as the storm pounded coastal towns. One resident, Tirso Tugagao, said the wind sounded like a roaring machine. Disaster teams braced for impact, while the national weather agency warned of widespread damage in northern Luzon. At the same time, Taiwan issued warnings for “extremely torrential rain” and began evacuations in mountainous areas, fearing a repeat of past deadly storms.
In China, officials took urgent action in Guangdong province, suspending public transport and cancelling school and work across multiple cities. Airlines responded quickly, with Cathay Pacific announcing over 500 flight cancellations. Hong Kong International Airport will halt all passenger flights from Tuesday evening until daytime Thursday. The massive storm, with a wind radius of 320 kilometres, is already impacting coastal regions even before its full arrival.
Taiwan’s eastern regions began seeing heavy rain due to Ragasa’s wide storm field. Emergency crews evacuated residents in landslide-prone areas. Officials compared the incoming storm to 2023’s Typhoon Koinu, which destroyed homes and infrastructure. The scale of Ragasa’s winds and rainfall raised fears of similar damage, especially in areas with vulnerable infrastructure or ongoing corruption-related delays in flood control projects.
The Philippines faces frequent tropical storms due to its position in the Pacific cyclone belt. Every year, around 20 typhoons strike the archipelago, affecting millions. Scientists warn that climate change is making such storms more intense and destructive. Ragasa’s impact highlights growing regional vulnerability and the urgent need for stronger disaster planning and climate action across Asia.