China

Super Typhoon Ragasa Batters the Philippines

Published SEP 22 2025

Story

Above: Storm track map for Super Typhoon Ragasa, which hit the northern Philippines on Sept. 22, 2025. Image credit: Nicholas Shearman, John Saeki/Contributor/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Super Typhoon Ragasa made landfall over Panuitan Island in the northern Cagayan province of the Philippines on Monday with sustained winds exceeding 267 kph (165.9 mph), equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, making it the strongest storm globally this year.
The Associated Press
CNN
Star Tribune
Thousands were evacuated in the Philippines, with work and classes suspended across large parts of the country, including Metro Manila, as authorities issued the highest tropical cyclone wind warning.
The New York Times
CTVNews
Hong Kong International Airport will suspend all passenger flights for 36 hours from Tuesday evening to Thursday morning, marking the longest flight suspension in the airport's recent history.
ABC
Aero Time
Cathay Pacific announced the cancellation of more than 500 flights, while other major carriers, including Hong Kong Airlines and HK Express, also suspended operations during the typhoon period, affecting tens of thousands of passengers.
The Standard
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Chinese authorities in Shenzhen plan to evacuate approximately 400,000 people from low-lying and coastal areas, while Guangdong province will gradually suspend train services as the typhoon approaches southern China.
The New York Times
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
The typhoon is forecast to bring hurricane-force winds up to 230 kph to Hong Kong on Wednesday, with sea conditions potentially similar to previous destructive storms such as Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018.
Independent
South China Morning Post

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The Spin

Climate-concerned narrative

These extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, with global ocean temperatures at record levels for eight consecutive years, providing the energy that supercharges these devastating storms. The rapid intensification of Ragasa through an eyewall replacement cycle shows how quickly modern typhoons can strengthen in a warming world.

guardian

Climate-skeptic narrative

The all-too-frequent attempts to correlate cyclones to climate change ring of blatant climate alarmism. With contradictory studies looking at variables ranging from sea surface temperatures to intensification, skepticism should be taken any time a strong typhoon or hurricane is immediately linked to global warming. Media outlets must acknowledge the nuances of science.

The Heritage Foundation