September 22, 2025 – The most powerful storm of 2025, “Ragasa,” made landfall in northern Philippines on Monday, carrying strong winds and heavy rains equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, forcing over 10,000 people to evacuate. Hong Kong, Taiwan, and southern China immediately entered a state of disaster readiness, expecting a severe test in the middle of this week.
This storm is expected to become one of the most severe regional natural disasters of 2025. After sweeping through the Philippines, it will bring long-lasting impacts to the entire East Asian coastal region.
Meteorologists pointed out that even though the outer bands of “Ragasa” did not directly hit, it was enough to bring over 400 millimeters of rainfall to northern Luzon. The Batanes and Babuyan Islands of the Philippines, as well as the eastern coastal areas of Taiwan, could experience waves over three meters high or even higher, with southern China and Vietnam to follow.
The rapid intensification of “Ragasa” is related to the “eyewall replacement cycle,” making the storm larger in size, with wider wind fields and stronger destructive power.
Philippine authorities urge residents to heed evacuation orders. The Department of Interior emphasized that “houses and properties can be rebuilt, but lost lives cannot be recovered.”
As residents in northern Philippines seek shelters amid strong winds and heavy rain, “Ragasa” is approaching southern China.
The governments of Hong Kong and Taiwan are urging citizens to stay indoors, prepare emergency supplies, and closely monitor official updates.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that “Ragasa” (known locally as “Nando”) had made landfall on Panuitan Island in Cagayan Province, with maximum sustained winds of 267 kilometers per hour and gusts exceeding 315 kilometers per hour. The highest level 5 wind warning has been issued for the Babuyan Islands in the north, warning of potential storm surges over three meters high.
The Department of Interior in the Philippines stated that over 10,000 people in the northern and central parts of Luzon have been evacuated. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a halt to work and classes in the greater Manila area and 29 provinces, and hospitals were put on high alert. Power outages have been reported in various parts of the north, with Apayao Province experiencing a complete blackout.
Footage from the scene showed homes on Camiguin Island being inundated by strong winds and waves, and trees in Batan Province swaying violently in the strong winds. Officials in the Philippines warned of possible landslides and severe flooding in low-lying areas due to the combination of monsoon rains.
The typhoon is expected to approach the waters south of Hong Kong in the early hours of Wednesday, with maximum wind speeds expected to remain above 200 kilometers per hour. The Hong Kong government announced the suspension of classes across the city from Tuesday to Wednesday and activated temporary shelters. Cathay Pacific canceled over 500 flights, and Hong Kong Airlines suspended dozens of flights. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge will be closed starting from Tuesday.
In Hong Kong, there was a rush for supplies on Monday morning, with essentials like milk sold out in supermarkets and vegetable prices soaring to three times their usual rates.
The Hong Kong Observatory warned that extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent, with the daily rainfall in August reaching a record high since 1884.
In Taiwan, both land and sea typhoon warnings have been issued, and hundreds of people in areas like Hualien have been prepared for evacuation. Mountainous areas and coastal trails in the east have been closed, with some ferry services suspended.
Guangdong Province in China is expected to evacuate 400,000 coastal residents in Shenzhen and gradually suspend train operations starting from Tuesday. Several provinces in Guangdong and South China have also initiated flood prevention measures, warning of heavy rainfall ahead.