Life in certain regions of the Philippines was significantly disrupted on Monday as authorities suspended work and families sought refuge in evacuation centers in anticipation of the imminent landing of Super Typhoon Ragasa in northern Luzon.
As of 8 a.m. local time (0000 GMT), the national weather service reported winds reaching up to 215 kph (134 mph) and gusts up to 265 kph.
A typhoon warning has been issued for the Babuyan Islands, where Ragasa is expected to make landfall around midday. Authorities are urging residents to evacuate to higher ground due to the threats of heavy flooding, landslides, and widespread power outages.
Schools and government offices have been closed in the Manila region and across 29 Philippine provinces. The cancellation of dozens of domestic flights and ferry services has also been reported.
Rueli Rapsing, the provincial disaster chief, stated that preparations are in place for “the worst” in northern Cagayan, where strong winds are already being experienced.
Super Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest storms to hit the region in years, is expected to cross the Luzon Strait toward southern China. Taiwan has issued land and sea warnings, canceled flights to eastern cities, and initiated small-scale evacuations in mountainous areas.
In response to the typhoon, Hong Kong plans to halt all passenger flights for 36 hours starting Tuesday, as reported by Bloomberg News. The possible suspension of flights aligns with Typhoon Ragasa’s projected advancement.
Scientists have noted that storms are becoming increasingly powerful due to the effects of human-driven climate change.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/evacuations-begin-as-typhoon-ragasa-near-philippines/a-74086193?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
