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Super Typhoon Ragasa prompts Flight Cancellations in Hong Kong Following Deadly Impact in the Philippines
HONG KONG/MANILA – Hong Kong has cancelled over 700 flights as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches, while the Philippines is reeling from the storm’s initial impact which has left at least three people dead and over 17,500 displaced. Ragasa, the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, lashed Luzon with winds exceeding 175kmph before moving towards southern Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The typhoon’s path poses a significant threat to densely populated coastal areas, disrupting travel and raising concerns about potential widespread damage. The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is currently focused on rescue efforts and providing aid to those affected by flooding and landslides. Hong Kong authorities are preparing for Ragasa’s arrival, anticipating heavy rainfall and strong winds that could disrupt essential services.
Among the casualties in the Philippines, a 74-year-old man died in tuba, Benguet province, after being pinned inside a vehicle buried by mud and rocks. Two other fatalities were reported in Calayan town, cagayan province, where the storm made landfall. More than 17,500 people have been displaced across the country, seeking shelter as ragasa brought torrential rain and destructive winds.
Schools and government offices were closed across manila and 29 northern provinces, and fishing boats and ferries were ordered to remain in port. Dozens of domestic flights within the Philippines were also cancelled. Ragasa, meaning “scramble” in Tagalog, is forecast to continue towards southern Taiwan and Hong Kong, with authorities in both regions closely monitoring its progress and preparing for potential impacts.
