Thousands Evacuated as Super Typhoon Ragasa Strikes Northern Philippines

Manila, Philippines — 2025-09-22 18:30 PHT.

Super Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest storms of 2025, has hit northern parts of the Philippines, prompting mass evacuations, widespread closures, and serious warnings of flooding and landslides. Authorities are also bracing for further impact as the typhoon moves toward Taiwan, Hong Kong, and southern China. 

The Latest

• Ragasa made landfall near Panuitan Island, Cagayan province, with sustained winds of about 215 km/h (134 mph) and gusts exceeding 295 km/h (183 mph). 

• At least 8,200 people in Cagayan province and 1,200 in neighboring Apayao have been evacuated from low-lying villages. 

• Schools and government offices have been shut across multiple provinces, and travel (domestic flights, ferries) has been suspended in affected areas. 

• Ragasa is forecast to carry its destructive force toward Taiwan and southern China, where preparations for storm surges, heavy rain, and strong winds are underway. 

Context in Brief

• “Super typhoon” is the classification used in the Philippines for tropical cyclones with sustained winds over 185 km/h. Ragasa easily surpasses that threshold. 

• Northern Luzon is often among the first landfall regions for Pacific typhoons, which can bring catastrophic flooding and landslides due to mountainous terrain and variable infrastructure capacity.

• The season has already tested disaster response systems in the region; disaster risk reduction agencies have been on high alert in anticipation of stronger storms.

Law, Policy & Process

• The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is charged with coordinating evacuations, relief efforts, and disaster preparedness. 

• Local governments are mandated under existing disaster and climate laws to shut schools, declare states of calamity when needed, and mobilize resources for shelter, rescue, and early warning.

• Evacuees are typically housed in emergency shelters; authorities also issue storm signals and warnings via PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration). 

Voices & Stakeholders

• PAGASA / Local forecasters: Warned of severe storm surges exceeding 3 meters in some low-lying coastal areas, heavy rainfall, and landslide risk in mountainous zones. 

• Residents / Evacuees: Tens of thousands have fled homes, particularly in Cagayan and Apayao provinces. Many are relocating to evacuation centres provided by local governments. 

• Authorities in Taiwan & China: Issued advisories, suspended flights/ferries, ordered businesses and schools to close, and are preparing for potential severe impact. 

Evidence & Data Box

Risks & Implications

• Human safety risk: Floods, landslides, and storm surges pose immediate danger in coastal and mountainous areas. Vulnerable populations (poor housing, remote areas) are especially at risk.

• Infrastructure damage: Expect damage to roads, power lines, communication systems, and housing. Disruption of transport, utilities, and essential services likely.

• Supply chain & services disruption: Suspension of flights/ferries, closures of schools/businesses will affect goods, movement, commerce, possibly access to food and medical care.

• Regional ripple effects: Taiwan, Hong Kong and southern China must prepare; storms of this magnitude can cause cross-border impacts in trade, travel and economies.

What We Don’t Know Yet

• Exact death tolls and complete damage assessments — many areas remain unreachable.

• Full scope of evacuations outside the hardest-hit provinces.

• How effectively shelters and emergency support can cope, especially in remote or poor-infrastructure areas.

• Duration and intensity of aftereffects (flooding, power outages, landslides) once Ragasa moves inland or dissipates.

Timeline

• 2025-09-22 (Morning): Ragasa makes landfall near Panuitan Island, Cagayan. Evacuations begin. 

• 2025-09-22 (Afternoon-Evening): Schools, government offices closed; domestic flights/ferries suspended in northern Luzon. Authorities issue coastal storm surge warnings. 

• 2025-09-23 (Forecast): Ragasa expected to move toward Taiwan, Hong Kong, southern China; further warnings and evacuations underway in those regions. 

What to Watch

• Updates from NDRRMC for displacement figures, damage reports, and relief mobilisation.

• Storm signals from PAGASA and equivalent bodies in China/Taiwan.

• Weather behaviour as Ragasa enters the South China Sea — whether its strength holds or weakens.

• International aid or disaster response deployment possibility, depending on scale of damage.

Related Coverage

• Super Typhoon Ragasa lashes Philippines, Taiwan as thousands evacuated — AP News 

• Typhoon Ragasa heads to Taiwan, Hong Kong, China after lashing Philippines — Al Jazeera 

• Thousands evacuated in Philippines as super typhoon nears land — Phys.org 

Editor’s Note: This story is developing; figures for deaths, missing persons, and damage are likely to change. We will update as official data becomes available.

Corrections: None as of publication.