A powerful super typhoon ripped through northern Philippines on Monday, prompting mass evacuations, widespread disruptions, and serious warnings of flooding and landslides. The storm, named Ragasa locally Nando, is among the strongest storms of the year for the region.
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Storm Strength and Path

According to the Philippine weather agency, Ragasa made landfall around 3:00 PM local time on Calayan Island in the Babuyan group off the province of Cagayan.
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Its sustained winds reached about 215 km/h (134 mph) with gusts up to 295 km/h (183 mph) — easily qualifying it as a super typhoon under Philippine standards.
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The storm is moving westward, expected to pass south of Taiwan and Hong Kong before likely impacting parts of southeastern China.
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Evacuations and Government Response

Authorities wasted no time. Over 8,200 people in Cagayan and some 1,220 in Apayao have been evacuated to safer locations due to imminent risks of flooding and landslides.
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Schools and government offices in northern Luzon were shut down in anticipation of the super typhoon’s landfall.
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Domestic flights and ferries have also been grounded in affected provinces to prevent accidents at sea and ensure safety.
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. placed the national disaster response agency on full alert and ordered all government units in vulnerable areas to prepare for emergency operations.
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Predicted Hazards

Forecasters are warning of dangerous storm surges for low-lying coastal communities, particularly in Cagayan, Batanes, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Surge heights could exceed 3 meters (nearly 10 feet).
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The risk of landslides is especially high in mountainous or hilly terrain, now saturated by previous rains. Regions like Apayao are particularly vulnerable.
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In addition, extensive power outages have occurred. Calayan Island and much of Apayao have lost electricity as the storm knocks down lines and damages infrastructure.
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Broader Regional Impact

Though the Philippines is bearing the brunt, neighbouring Taiwan and parts of southern China are also bracing for effects. Coastal and mountain areas in Taitung and Pingtung (Taiwan) have been placed under alert; China is preparing large-scale evacuations — as many as 400,000 people in Shenzhen alone may need to be relocated as Ragasa approaches.
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Challenges and Looking Ahead

The scale of Ragasa’s strength, its projected path over packed populations and exposed coastal zones, and existing infrastructure vulnerabilities combine to make this a serious disaster threat. Emergency services face logistic challenges: moving people safely, ensuring shelters are fit for purpose, and providing food, water and medical care under the conditions of high wind, flooding and possibly torn coastal roads and damaged power networks.

Climate scientists warn that storms like Ragasa are becoming more intense and frequent with climate change, stressing the urgency of disaster preparedness and resilience in storm-prone regions.
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As Ragasa pushes forward, all eyes are on how well affected communities can ride out its force. The combination of strong winds, storm surge, flooding and landslides makes this one of the more dangerous typhoons this season. The threat is real — and large-scale cooperation between government agencies, civil society, and the people will be essential to avoid the worst.