Super Typhoon Ragasa is holding its intensity as it moves closer to Hong Kong after killing at least three people on its way through the northern Philippines.
Hong Kong's authorities have issued their third-highest typhoon warning and cancelled at least 700 flights, with "severe disruption" expected from 6pm today.
The storm, described by forecasters as the most powerful on Earth so far this year, was packing maximum sustained winds of 185kmph and gusts up to 230kmph, according to the Philippine weather agency Pagasa.
The typhoon is forecast to keep its current strength over the next 24 hours before weakening slightly as it approaches the Chinese coast.
At least three people died in the Philippines and thousands were displaced as the super typhoon triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and major damage to homes and infrastructure across affected regions.
Schools were shut and residents stockpiled groceries in Hong Kong and Macau. The nearby Chinese tech hub Shenzhen has ordered the evacuation of 400,000 people.
Key Points
- Map: Super Typhoon Ragasa maintains its strength
- Hong Kong International Airport to suspend all flights for 36 hours
- Authorities planning to evacuate 400,000 residents from southern China
- At least three people killed in Philippines, thousands displaced
Photos: Authorities hand out sandbags for residents
10:50 , Stuti Mishra
Hong Kong Stock Exchange to remain open
10:30 , Stuti MishraThe Hong Kong Stock Exchange will continue trading tomorrow even as the city comes to a halt due to Super Typhoon Ragasa.
Last September, the exchange introduced a trading mechanism allowing the securities market to stay open even with a typhoon signal No 8 or higher.
Photos: Waves crashing in Taiwan as Super Typhoon Ragasa nears
10:10 , Stuti Mishra
Photos: Super Typhoon Ragasa triggers landslides and floods in Philippines
09:50 , Stuti MishraA man stands beside a damaged road due to Typhoon Ragasa in Uyugan, Batanes province, northern Philippines.
Typhoon Ragasa: Your rights if your flight or holiday is cancelled
09:30 , Stuti MishraTens of thousands of passengers are likely to be stranded due to Typhoon Ragasa, with hundreds of flights grounded across east Asia, as well as many intercontinental connections to and from Europe.
Their rights depend on the airline they are travelling with, and also where their intended journey begins.
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder explains the key aspects.
Typhoon Ragasa: Your rights if a flight or holiday is cancelled due to severe weather
Seawater gushes from a drainage outlet amid storm surge from Super Typhoon Ragasa in Hong Kong
09:00 , Stuti Mishra
Photos: Workers tape glass doors and windows
08:30 , Stuti Mishra
When is Super Typhoon Ragasa set to make landfall in China?
08:00 , Stuti MishraChina's National Meteorological Centre is forecasting that the typhoon will make landfall between the cities of Zhuhai and Zhanjiang in Guangdong on Wednesday afternoon.
Before it makes landfall in China, the outer bands of the typhoon will impact Hong Kong. The city has issued a typhoon warning signal No 8, the third-highest in the city's weather alert system.
20,000 passengers hoping to depart from Hong Kong on Tuesday afternoon and evening are grounded
07:35 , Simon CalderMore than 100 flight departures from Hong Kong have been cancelled in just 10 hours, from 2pm to midnight local time on Tuesday afternoon and evening. An estimated 20,000 passengers are affected.
Analysis by The Independent of Flightradar24 data shows 86 regional departures to destinations in Asia have been grounded.
In addition, more than 30 long-haul departures are grounded – including two overnight flights to London Heathrow on Cathay Pacific, and one on British Airways.
The main Hong Kong airline, Cathay Pacific, has grounded 14 intercontinental departures in the time frame, with three to Sydney alone. Transpacific services to Vancouver, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Toronto are grounded, as are European flights to Amsterdam and Frankfurt.
Many foreign airlines have cancelled flights to their hubs, including Emirates (Dubai), Swiss (Zurich), Lufthansa (Frankfurt), Air France (Paris), Qantas (Sydney and Melbourne), Air New Zealand (Auckland) and Finnair (Helsinki).
After midnight local time on Wednesday morning, the Cathay Pacific flight to Manchester is also cancelled.
Satellite image shows Super Typhoon Ragasa as it nears Hong Kong and mainland China
07:20 , Stuti Mishra
Boats brought into Victoria Harbour as Hong Kong braces for Super Typhoon Ragasa
07:05 , Stuti MishraVessels were moved into Victoria Harbour with Ragasa looming in the distance, as the city prepares for gale-force winds and storm surges.
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Photos: Residents stock up on supplies ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa
06:41 , Stuti Mishra
Hong Kong airport warns of ‘significant disruption’ as Ragasa nears
06:20 , Stuti MishraHong Kong airport said it will "continue operations" but warned passengers to expect "significant disruption" to flight operations from 6pm on Tuesday to Wednesday.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) said: “AAHK and the airport community are fully prepared and standing by for action. The three runways at HKIA will remain operational, and the terminal building will continue to stay open.”
The authority confirmed its Airport Emergency Centre will be activated, allowing staff, airlines and the Civil Aviation Department to coordinate contingency measures such as securing air bridges, strengthening drainage and deploying flood prevention works.
A temporary rest area will be set up inside the terminal with chairs, charging stations, water, snacks and blankets, while a number of restaurants and shops will remain open – some operating 24 hours. The Passenger Care Team will also be deployed to assist stranded travellers.
AAHK advised passengers to check with airlines before heading to the airport and use the HKIA website or “My HKG” app for updates.
Transport to the airport is expected to be affected as Hong Kong issued No 8 signal for typhoon, its third-highest. The airport said a taxi queue ticket system and shuttle buses for staff would be arranged to keep essential services running.
Hong Kong suspends hundreds of flights as Ragasa nears
06:04 , Stuti MishraHong Kong has suspended hundreds of flights as Super Typhoon Ragasa closes in, with airlines scaling back operations from Tuesday evening.
Cathay Pacific said it will suspend all passenger flights, around 500, arriving and departing Hong Kong after 6pm local time (10am GMT) on Tuesday, with most disruption expected on Wednesday.
According to the South China Morning Post, about 700 flights have already been cancelled as airlines prepare for the storm.
Other carriers have also taken action. Hong Kong Airlines announced a special ticketing arrangement, waiving rebooking and refund fees for flights affected between 23–25 September. Emirates has cancelled flights to Hong Kong and Shenzhen over the same period, Gulf News reported.
Live: Typhoon Ragasa brings high waves to southern Taiwan as it heads toward Hong Kong
05:30 , Stuti MishraSuper Typhoon Ragasa maintains its strength
05:03 , Stuti MishraSuper Typhoon Ragasa is holding its intensity today morning as it moves further into the West Philippine Sea after battering northern Luzon.
The storm, which was also known as Nando in the Philippines, was packing maximum sustained winds of 185kmph and gusts up to 230kmph at 11am, according to the Philippine weather agency PAGASA.
It was moving west-northwest at 20kmph and is expected to head toward southern China by late evening tomorrow.
The typhoon is forecast to keep its current strength over the next 24 hours before weakening slightly as it approaches the Chinese coast.
At least three people killed in Philippines, thousands displaced
04:27 , Stuti MishraAt least three people have been killed and five others remain missing after Super Typhoon Ragasa triggered flooding and landslides across northern Philippines, officials said on Monday.
The victims included a 74-year-old man who was pinned inside a vehicle buried by mud and rocks in the mountain town of Tuba, Benguet province, while being rushed to hospital. Two others died in Calayan town, a cluster of islands in northern Cagayan province where the storm made landfall.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said more than 17,500 people have been displaced as Ragasa – the most powerful storm to hit the Philippines this year – lashed Luzon with winds over 175kmph.
Schools and government offices were closed across Manila and 29 northern provinces, while fishing boats and ferries were ordered to stay in port. Dozens of domestic flights were cancelled.
Ragasa, whose name means “scramble” in Tagalog, is forecast to continue towards southern Taiwan and Hong Kong after leaving the Philippines on Tuesday.
Watch how Super Typhoon Ragasa intensified
03:57 , Stuti MishraA remarkable two-day time lapse of Super Typhoon Ragasa.
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) September 23, 2025
Over the next few days, Ragasa will continue it's trek west towards China. pic.twitter.com/6MW6BrrLjO
Super Typhoon Ragasa mapped: ‘Strongest storm on planet’ forces evacuations in Philippines and Taiwan
03:01 , Tom Watling
Mapped: Super Typhoon Ragasa forces evacuations in Philippines and Taiwan
Watch Typhoon Ragasa live as ‘world’s strongest storm this year’ forces evacuations and flight disruptions
02:02 , Tom Watling
Watch Typhoon Ragasa live as ‘world’s strongest storm this year’ forces evacuations
Ragasa expected to hit China's mainland coastal areas
01:07 , Tom WatlingRagasa is expected to bring torrential rains and heavy winds to China's mainland coastal areas, starting Tuesday. Multiple cities such as Jiangmen, Yangjiang, Zhongshan and Zhuhai in southern Guangdong province ordered the suspension of schools, offices, factories and means of transportation.
The typhoon could make landfall in Guangdong more than once, China's weather agency said.
Authorities urged residents to stockpile emergency supplies, reinforce doors and windows, and evacuate underground areas.
Super typhoon blowing by northern Philippines and Taiwan forces evacuations and closures
Tuesday 23 September 2025 00:06 , Tom Watling
Super typhoon blowing by northern Philippines and Taiwan forces evacuations and closures
Super Typhoon Ragasa hits Hong Kong
Monday 22 September 2025 23:06 , Tom WatlingRagasa is expected to sweep south of Hong Kong and Macao. While Hong Kong's airport is expected to remain open, the city's airport authority said flights would be significantly reduced after 6 p.m. Tuesday and most flight operations would be affected on Wednesday.
Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways said passenger flights scheduled to depart and arrive in the city after 6 p.m. Tuesday will be suspended, with more than 500 flight cancellations expected.
Other Hong Kong-based airlines announced their flights would be disrupted, including budget airline HK Express, which reported a cancellation of over 100 flights between Tuesday and Thursday.
All schools in Hong Kong and Macao will be closed for the next two days. More than the usual number of sandbags have been provided to flood-prone areas in Hong Kong, while Macao police urged people living in low-lying areas to prepare for possible evacuation.
Super Typhoon Ragasa mapped: ‘Strongest storm on planet’ forces evacuations in Philippines and Taiwan
Monday 22 September 2025 22:01 , Tom WatlingMapped: Super Typhoon Ragasa forces evacuations in Philippines and Taiwan
Philippines weather agency warns of 'high risk of life-threatening' surge due to 'coastal inundation'
Monday 22 September 2025 21:03 , Maira ButtCitizens of the Philippines have been warned “there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) within the next 24 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities" of the northern provinces of Cagayan, Batanes, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
The risk comes from coastal inundation, which occurs when low-lying land is flooded due to extremely high water levels.
Calayan Island and the entire northern mountain province of Apayayo, west of Cagayan, saw its power knocked out, according to disaster-report officials.
Over 4,000 officers on standby as Super Typhoon looms
Monday 22 September 2025 20:30 , Maira ButtHong Kong is set to axe 700 flights with 4,000 officers on standby according to the South China Morning Post.
Chief Secretary for the China Administration, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, urged the public to remain indoors and warned that stringent enforcement action if instructions were ignored.
Watch Typhoon Ragasa live as ‘world’s strongest storm this year’ forces evacuations and flight disruptions
Monday 22 September 2025 20:02 , Maira ButtWatch live as Typhoon Ragasa, the most powerful storm recorded this year, passes through the Phillipines whilst China, Hong Kong and Taiwan go on high alert.
The superstorm with recorded winds of 270km/h has made landall over sparskely populated northern islands on Monday (22 September), with tens of thousands being evacuated as a result.
Holly Bishop reports:
Watch Typhoon Ragasa live as ‘world’s strongest storm this year’ forces evacuations
In pictures: Satellite images show scale of strongest storm in the world this year
Monday 22 September 2025 19:30 , Maira Butt
Filipino authorities issue flood warning
Monday 22 September 2025 19:05 , Maira ButtThe Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has issued a flood warning for Manila.
The warning, effective from 22–23 September, signals the possibility of heavy rainfall and localised flooding in the capital region.
Authorities have advised residents and local officials to take precautionary measures to minimise potential impacts.
IMPACT-BASED WARNING NO. 3 (Heavy Rainfall / Flood Event)
— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) September 22, 2025
Issued at: 03:00PM, 22 September 2025
Weather System: Enhance Southwest Monsoon (STY Nando)
Warning date of “high impact” weather: 22-23 September 2025 (Monday - Tuesday)
Risk statement: Minor impacts are expected over… pic.twitter.com/sV9KkqP09W
Cathay Pacific cancels flights to and from Hong Kong as Super Typhoon approaches
Monday 22 September 2025 18:30 , Maira ButtA number of flights scheduled to arrive and depart from Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday and Wednesday have been cancelled.
Hong Kong’s flag carrier said affected passengers would be alerted via SMS, email and the Cathay Pacific app.
Super Typhoon Ragasa mapped: ‘Strongest storm on planet’ forces evacuations in Philippines and Taiwan
Monday 22 September 2025 18:03 , Maira ButtRagasa, the strongest storm on the planet this year so far, has threatened the north of the island country and set off storm alerts across east and southeast Asia. Forecasters said Ragasa, known locally as Typhoon Nando, had undergone “explosive strengthening” over the Philippine Sea.
The storm intensified as it packed winds of 215kmph (134 mph) and gusts of up to 295kmph (160 mph), and brushed Babuyan Island in the early hours of Monday. Ragasa is headed for possible landfall over Calayan Island, raising the risk of storm surges exceeding three metres (9ft), the state weather agency said.
Stuti Mishra reports:
Mapped: Super Typhoon Ragasa forces evacuations in Philippines and Taiwan
In pictures: Supermarkets empty in Shenzhen, in southern China's Guangdong province, as Super Typhoon Ragasa looms
Monday 22 September 2025 17:30 , Maira Butt
Philippine government says it has enough resources to assist typhoon-affected communities
Monday 22 September 2025 17:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarOfficials in the Philippines said that the government has enough resources to assist communities affected by Super Typhoon Ragasa (locally known as Super Typhoon Nando).
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has also ordered immediate support for affected residents and frontline agencies, according to the Philippine News Agency.
Officials say the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund currently has about $147m set aside for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction in disaster-hit areas.
A local official was quoted as saying: “Our citizens should not worry. We have sufficient funds.”
Hong Kong residents stock up on food and essentials as Ragasa approaches the city
Monday 22 September 2025 16:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarResidents in Hong Kong rushed to supermarkets today to stock up on food and essentials ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa, with some comparing the crowds to the Lunar New Year.
Fresh vegetables, meat, and baked goods sold out quickly, leaving empty shelves in many stores.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued a No 1 typhoon warning at 12.20 pm, with Ragasa approaching the city with winds of 230 kmph.
Shoppers adjusted plans and stocked up for several days as authorities warned of severe weather in the coming two days.
Authorities planning to evacuate 400,000 residents from southern China
Monday 22 September 2025 16:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarCities in southern China are preparing for Super Typhoon Ragasa, with Shenzhen warning of “disastrous calamities” and planning to relocate 400,000 residents from flood-prone areas.
Schools in Shenzhen will also be suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Typhoon #Ragasa is over the Luzon Strait and will parallel the southern coast of #China later Tuesday into Thursday, local time. Ragasa will impact northern #Vietnam late this week. pic.twitter.com/mISWD1jY4R
— Jason Nicholls 💙 (@jnmet) September 22, 2025
The National Meteorological Centre reported that Ragasa intensified into a super typhoon on Sunday and is expected to make landfall along coastal areas from Shanwei in Guangdong province to Wenchang in Hainan on Wednesday.
Torrential rains of up to 280mm are forecast from Tuesday to Thursday in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangsu, and Anhui provinces.
Hong Kong Airport will 'continue operations' as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches
Monday 22 September 2025 15:53 , Maira ButtHong Kong International Airport will “continue operations when Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches”, it confirmed in a statement on Monday.
A temporary rest area will be set up for passengers, complete with chairs and mobile charging stations.
“The Passenger Care Team will be deployed to provide assistance to passengers and distribute essential supplies such as bottled water, snacks and blankets,” it said in a statement.
International Space Station shares image of the eye of Super Typhoon Ragasa
Monday 22 September 2025 15:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe International Space Station captured a stunning view as it flew directly over the eye of Super Typhoon Ragasa on Monday.
The still image, taken from a video shared on X, showed the massive storm swirling across the Pacific.
Watch Typhoon Ragasa live as ‘world’s strongest storm this year’ forces evacuations and flight disruptions
Monday 22 September 2025 15:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarWatch live as Typhoon Ragasa, the most powerful storm recorded this year, passes through the Philippines whilst China, Hong Kong and Taiwan go on high alert.
The superstorm with recorded winds of 270kmph made landfall over sparsely populated northern islands on Monday (22 September), with tens of thousands being evacuated as a result.
The Philippine weather bureau described the typhoon as bringing with it a “high risk of life-threatening storm surge”, with peak wave heights of over 3 metres.
Watch Typhoon Ragasa live as ‘world’s strongest storm this year’ forces evacuations
Red rainfall warning for several provinces in northern Philippines
Monday 22 September 2025 14:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe Philippine weather bureau (Pagasa) has issued a red rainfall warning for Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, and La Union in northern Philippines with over 200mm of rain expected, raising risks of widespread flooding and landslides.
An orange warning is in effect for Apayao, Cagayan, and Abra, where 100–200mm of rain could trigger flooding in low-lying and urban areas, Philstar Global reported.
Latest Satellite Image pic.twitter.com/jBDzNh6mDs
— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) September 22, 2025
A yellow warning covers Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Occidental Mindoro, where localised flooding and landslides are possible.
Separately, for the next three hours, an orange rainfall warning applies to Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, including Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Cavite, and parts of Rizal.
Several Philippine provinces without electricity
Monday 22 September 2025 14:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said on Monday that two major transmission lines in northern Luzon went down after Super Typhoon Ragasa swept through the region, cutting electricity to parts of Cagayan and Abra provinces.
Repairs will begin once conditions are safe, officials said.
The country’s largest power distributor, Meralco, said its crews are on standby and urged residents to “prioritise safety and remain vigilant, especially in flood-prone areas”.
Tropical Cyclone Update #NandoPH
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) September 22, 2025
2PM, September 22, 2025
Life-threatening conditions persist in Extreme Northern Luzon as Nando passes very close to Babuyan Island.
It may make landfall over or pass very close to Calayan Island between 2 and 5 p.m. Monday.
At 1 p.m. today,… pic.twitter.com/Fah7CND6K4
Customers were advised to report outages through social media, hotlines, or SMS.
According to the state weather bureau Pagasa, the storm’s centre was near Babuyan Island in northern Cagayan province on Monday afternoon, with sustained winds of 215 kmph and gusts up to 295 kmph – making Ragasa the strongest storm of the year so far.
Super Typhoon Ragasa mapped: ‘Strongest storm on planet’ forces evacuations in Philippines and Taiwan
Monday 22 September 2025 13:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarStorm known locally as Typhoon Nando bears down with destructive winds and torrential rain after undergoing ‘explosive strengthening’ over the Philippine Sea.
Read here:
Mapped: Super Typhoon Ragasa forces evacuations in Philippines and Taiwan
Hong Kong Jockey Club cancels races due to Ragasa
Monday 22 September 2025 13:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe Hong Kong Jockey Club has cancelled Wednesday’s races at Happy Valley Racecourse due to Super Typhoon Ragasa.
“This decision has been made in the interest of public and equine safety, and to support the operational needs of stakeholders across the racing industry,” a statement read.
The Hong Kong Observatory said the storm, the strongest in the northwest Pacific this year, will bring gale to storm force winds by midweek, with offshore gusts possibly reaching hurricane strength.
🚨 UPDATE: In light of the approaching Super Typhoon Ragasa and the latest forecasts issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has decided that the Happy Valley race meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 24 Sep, will be cancelled. #HKracing
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) September 21, 2025
Authorities have also cleared drains at over 240 flood-prone locations, while warning that sudden blockages cannot be ruled out, Hong Kong Free Press reported.
Hong Kong is bracing for heavy squalls, thunderstorms and coastal flooding comparable to Super Typhoons Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018.
Residents share videos and photos of wreckage as Ragasa strikes northern Philippines
Monday 22 September 2025 12:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarVideo coming out of Balatubat, Camiguin Island, Cagayan from over an hour ago showing the strong winds and big waves as Super Typhoon #NandoPH (#RAGASA) approaches.
— StormHQ ☈ (@StormHQwx) September 22, 2025
Babuyan Island is expected to feel the worst of the storm where 19,000 people lives.
🎥: Elma Mariano pic.twitter.com/IpTMPHV8zY
The wind is quite chaotic, due to surrounding hills. Periods of calm interrupted by strong gusts of wind as #super #typhoon #ragasa #nandoph passes south of Batan in Philippines pic.twitter.com/fYDwUfalUq
— James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV) September 22, 2025
Super #typhoon #ragasa #nandoph is moving away from Batan. The islands south bore the brunt of it. Heavy squalls still lashing us here but conditions should steadily ease over the next few hours pic.twitter.com/yCutAxcER3
— James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV) September 22, 2025
while the country is battling corruption and typhoon at the same time, I hope everyone stays safe. Make sure to take your pets out of cages and remove their leashes so they can move freely. <3 #NandoPH
— Neithh (@minatozvki_) September 22, 2025
ctto. (video not mine) https://t.co/fIRqC2Eavp pic.twitter.com/GAsTeXW58v
TAKE CARE AND STAY INDOORS!
— Be An INQUIRER (@BeAnINQUIRER) September 22, 2025
WATCH: Super Typhoon Nando brought persistent rainfall and intense winds in Baguio City on Monday afternoon, Sept. 22.
📹: @zxyl.000/TikTok | @_angelmcs #BeAnINQUIRER #BAIxINQ pic.twitter.com/Sv3ghzl3eL
