September 22nd, 2025 - Super Typhoon Ragasa Strikes the Philippines, Moves Toward Hong Kong

Super Typhoon Ragasa lashed the northern Philippines on Monday, bringing fierce winds, torrential rains, and landslides. Authorities issued mass evacuation orders, closed schools, and canceled hundreds of flights as the storm advanced toward Hong Kong and southern China.

The typhoon briefly recorded sustained winds of 165 miles per hour, making it the strongest storm in the world this year, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii. It surpassed Hurricane Erin in the Atlantic, which reached 160 miles per hour.

Ragasa made landfall at the northern tip of Luzon, the Philippines’ most populated northern island, which includes the capital, Manila. The state weather bureau reported heavy rains and landslides across the region, much of which was already dealing with flooding from previous storms.

In Benguet Province, officials reported a fatality when a 74-year-old man was killed after his car was buried in a landslide. Three other vehicles were trapped under debris, though it was unclear whether anyone inside them was injured. Authorities had warned of “life-threatening conditions” across northern Luzon.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said over 100,000 people were forced to evacuate. About 1,200 took refuge in evacuation centers, while the rest stayed with relatives or friends. Schools and government offices in Manila and nearby areas remained closed as officials prepared for further heavy rainfall.

As Ragasa tracked westward, it was expected to pass south of Taiwan and reach Hong Kong on Wednesday. Taiwan’s fire agency evacuated roughly 3,500 residents from vulnerable areas, while some national parks were closed and hikers were advised to leave immediately.

In Hong Kong, more than 500 flights were canceled by Cathay Pacific, though the city’s three airport runways remained operational. Authorities planned to provide snacks, water, and blankets to stranded passengers, while schools were closed for two days. In Shenzhen and other parts of southern China, officials ordered mass evacuations of flood-prone areas, and rail services were curtailed or suspended in anticipation of widespread disruption.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Catch-22 (noun, KATCH-twen-tee-TOO) - Catch-22 typically refers to a difficult situation for which there is no easy or possible solution. In the narrowest use of the term, it refers to a problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule.

Example: I’m in a catch-22: to get the job I need experience, but how do I get experience if I can’t get the job?

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