On Monday, September 22, 2025, the Philippines brought much of its capital, Metro Manila, and surrounding regions to a standstill. Super Typhoon Ragasa, a formidable weather system, is rapidly approaching northern Luzon, prompting authorities to suspend work and classes in anticipation of devastating winds and heavy rainfall.
State weather officials have issued the highest typhoon warning for the remote Babuyan Islands, urging residents in vulnerable low-lying and coastal areas to evacuate immediately. The primary concerns are life-threatening storm surges and extensive flooding.
With maximum sustained winds reaching 205 kilometers per hour (127 mph) and gusts up to 250 kph, Ragasa is expected to either make direct landfall on or closely pass by the Babuyan Islands around midday, before continuing its path across the Luzon Strait.
While Taiwan may not experience a direct hit, the typhoon’s outer bands are forecast to unleash significant rainfall across the island’s less-populated eastern coast. In response, Taiwan has implemented land and sea warnings, leading to numerous flight cancellations to eastern cities such as Taitung and Hualien.
Following its trajectory, the super typhoon is projected to strike Hong Kong en route to the coast of southern China. Reports from Bloomberg News indicate that the financial hub is considering a 36-hour closure of its airport as it braces for one of the strongest typhoons in recent memory.
Philippine meteorologists have issued grave warnings of widespread power outages, potential landslides, and treacherous sea conditions as Ragasa’s initial effects begin to lash northern Luzon. The impending storm has already resulted in the cancellation of over a dozen domestic flights, predominantly affecting routes within Luzon, and a halt to ferry services at various ports.