On Monday, September 22, Super Typhoon “Ragasa” was approaching the northern part of the Philippines, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. Most areas in the Philippines and some parts of Taiwan have suspended work, classes, and flights.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Typhoon “Ragasa” maintained sustained winds of up to 215 kilometers per hour, with gusts reaching as high as 265 kilometers per hour. The center of the typhoon was located east of the island of Calayan outside the province of Cagayan, moving westward at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. It is expected that by midday to early afternoon on Monday, “Ragasa” will make landfall or pass over the Babuyan group of islands in Cagayan province before crossing the Luzon Strait.
PAGASA issued warnings that coastal areas would face the threat of flooding within the next 24 hours. Low-lying or exposed coastal areas in provinces like Cagayan, Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur in the northern Philippines are likely to experience life-threatening storm surges, including waves exceeding 3 meters.
Emergency officials reported that the northern mountainous areas of Abra province west of Cagayan and Calayan Island had already experienced power outages. There have been no reports of the typhoon’s impact yet.
On Monday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the suspension of public services for 29 provinces in Manila and the northern Luzon region. Schools at all levels were also ordered to close.
Domestic flights in northern Philippines have been suspended, and fishing boats and inter-island ferries have been prohibited from leaving port.
In Cagayan province, over 8,200 people have been evacuated to safe areas. In Abra province, which is susceptible to flash floods, 1,220 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters.
As a result of Typhoon “Ragasa”, Taiwan has issued land and sea warnings and canceled flights to eastern cities like Taitung and Hualien.
Weather forecasts indicate that the typhoon will linger in the South China Sea area until Wednesday, then pass through Taiwan and the waters south of Hong Kong before eventually making landfall in mainland China.
Southern Taiwan’s Taitung and Pingtung counties have ordered the partial closure of coastal and mountain areas, while the outlying islands of Orchid Island and Green Island have been closed off.
It is expected that Typhoon “Ragasa” will pass south of Hong Kong and Macau. Some residents in Hong Kong have begun stockpiling food supplies. The government has distributed over double the normal amount of sandbags in low-lying areas. Macau authorities have urged residents to prepare for evacuation and are considering closing the airport for up to 36 hours.
China’s meteorological agency predicts that Typhoon “Ragasa” may make multiple landfalls in Guangdong province. From Tuesday onwards, the coastal regions of mainland China are expected to experience heavy rain and strong winds. Cities in southern Guangdong province like Jiangmen, Yangjiang, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai have ordered the suspension of classes, work, and transport services.
(*This article is based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters)