Thousands of residents in the Philippines are being evacuated as the country prepares for super typhoon Ragasa, which local officials warn could result in significant damage. Expected to make landfall on Monday, Ragasa is projected to bring wind gusts of up to 230 km/h (143 mph) to the northern islands, which are primarily sparsely populated. Following landfall, the storm is anticipated to move west toward southern China.
The Philippine weather bureau has indicated that Ragasa poses a high risk for life-threatening storm surges, with potential peak heights surpassing 3 meters (10 feet). In response to the impending storm, schools and government offices in many areas, including the capital, Manila, have closed, and residents have been alerted to the possibility of widespread flooding, landslides, and damage to infrastructure.
The Batanes and Babuyan islands, where the typhoon is expected to first strike, are home to around 20,000 individuals, many of whom live under challenging economic conditions. The islands are located approximately 740 km (460 miles) from Taiwan, where nearly 300 individuals have already been evacuated from the Hualien region. Although Taiwan is not expected to experience a direct hit, heavy rains are forecast for the eastern coastline, prompting closures of forest areas and nature trails.
Authorities in China’s Guangdong province have begun advising residents to brace for potentially catastrophic conditions, with heavy rains and strong winds expected as early as Tuesday, two days before the storm’s projected landfall. In Hong Kong, officials have noted that weather conditions will deteriorate rapidly on Tuesday, and schooling arrangements are under consideration.
Ragasa, known as Nando in the Philippines, arrives amidst ongoing recovery from extensive flooding caused by unusual monsoon conditions. Additionally, there were widespread protests in the country on Sunday, focusing on government corruption and its impact on flood control infrastructure.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cge223y2e9eo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss