Massive typhoon strikes Philippines, forcing thousands to flee

Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest storm worldwide in 2025, has slightly weakened after making landfall in the Philippines. The super typhoon hit Panuitan Island in the Babuyan Islands of the northern Cagayan province on Monday at 15:00 local time (08:00 GMT), with wind gusts reaching 285km/h (177mph). It is now expected to move west towards southern China. Despite the decrease in intensity, the Philippine weather bureau warns of a high risk of life-threatening storm surges exceeding 3m (10ft).

Authorities have issued warnings of widespread flooding, landslides, and damage to homes and infrastructure. Schools and government offices in various parts of the country, including Manila, have been closed. The remote Batanes or Babuyan islands, where Ragasa made landfall, are home to around 20,000 people, many of whom live in poverty. Reports from Calayan island indicate damage to a school roof and coconut trees uprooted by the strong typhoon winds.

Ragasa is not expected to directly hit Taiwan but will bring heavy rains to the east coast. Forest areas and nature trails in southern and eastern Taiwan have been closed, and some ferry services suspended. In China's Guangdong province, authorities are advising residents to prepare for a "catastrophic" and "large-scale disaster." Shenzhen city plans to evacuate 400,000 people ahead of the typhoon's forecasted landfall. In Hong Kong, authorities are bracing for rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, leading to flight cancellations by Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines.

The typhoon, known as Nando in the Philippines, arrives as the country copes with severe flooding from an intense monsoon season. Recent protests across the nation have highlighted government corruption as a factor contributing to the lack of flood control infrastructure.