Super Typhoon Ragasa is holding its intensity as it moves closer to Hong Kong after killing at least five people on its way through Taiwan and the 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 China’s coast.
Two people have died in Taiwan and at least three fatalities were reported in the Philippines 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.
Read More
Key Points
- Hong Kong suspends hundreds of flights as Ragasa nears
- Why Super Typhoon Ragasa is being called 'King of storms'
- Map: Super Typhoon Ragasa maintains its strength
- Two dead and 30 missing in Taiwan after typhoon
- At least three people killed in Philippines, thousands displaced
At least 14 killed as lake bursts in Taiwan
04:05
,
Stuti Mishra
At least 14 people have been killed and 124 remain missing after a barrier lake in Taiwan burst its banks following torrential rains from Super Typhoon Ragasa, officials said.
The lake, formed by landslides in Hualien county after downpours, sent a wall of water crashing into Guangfu township yesterday.
“As of 7am Wednesday, 14 people are confirmed dead and 18 were reported injured,” Lee Kuan-ting, a county press official, said.
Taiwan’s fire department said search teams were still trying to locate 124 missing residents.
The outer rim of Ragasa has battered Taiwan since Monday, while the storm also killed at least three people in the northern Philippines and forced thousands into evacuation shelters.
Nasa astronaut shares images of super typhoon from space
01:00
,
Taz Ali
Violent Typhoon Ragasa and Neoguri from the International @Space_Station. Sept 21, 2025 0437 GMT. Nikon Z9 | 24/50-500mm.
— Jonny Kim (@JonnyKimUSA) September 23, 2025
From orbit, the view is breathtaking, but on the ground, this storm brings real danger and hardship. Thoughts are with everyone in its path, and with the… pic.twitter.com/PESFnPhYIC
Nearly 700 people take refuge in Hong Kong shelters
Wednesday 24 September 2025 00:00
,
Taz Ali
The Hong Kong Home Affairs Department said about 684 people sought refuge in 49 temporary shelters across the city.
The super typhoon was centered around 190km (118 miles) south-east of Hong Kong at around midnight local time.
Hong Kong Airport operated 600 flights during super typhoon
Tuesday 23 September 2025 23:01
,
Taz Ali
Hong Kong Airport handled 600 flights on Tuesday, according to officials, which is about half of its daily average of around 1,100.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong said there will be limited flights operating on Wednesday, including a small number of cargo flights.
In pictures: Hong Kong grinds to a halt as super typhoon approached with high winds and lashing rain
Tuesday 23 September 2025 22:00
,
Taz Ali
Hong Kong to consider raising typhoon warning
Tuesday 23 September 2025 21:00
,
Taz Ali
The Hong Kong Observatory said the weather will deteriorate “rapidly” as Super Typhoon Ragasa is expected to bring hurricane-force winds with speeds of up to 230km/h (143mph) and thunderstorms.
It has already issued a No 8 warning signal on Tuesday, the third highest on the scale, but it said it will consider raising it to No 9 on Wednesday when the super typhoon is expected to be closest to the city.
Watch: View of typhoon from International Space Station
Tuesday 23 September 2025 20:00
,
Taz Ali
When the @Space_Station flies directly over the strongest storm on the planet this year. @CNN #Ragasa #ISS #NandoPH pic.twitter.com/mX8cdvYbSl
— Derek Van Dam (@VanDamCNN) September 22, 2025
Mapped: ‘Strongest storm on planet’ brings Asian cities to a standstill
Tuesday 23 September 2025 19:00
,
Taz Ali
Super Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest storm of this year, continues to churn towards China, bringing Hong Kong, Macau, and several other cities to a halt.
Watch: Flightradar24 data shows dozens of flights cancelled in Hong Kong
Tuesday 23 September 2025 18:00
,
Taz Ali
Cathay Pacific aircraft evacuating their Hong Kong base earlier today ahead of the arrival of Super Typhoon #Ragasa. pic.twitter.com/WKjJcEpSFi
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 23, 2025
Hong Kong airport warns of ‘significant disruption’ as Ragasa nears
Tuesday 23 September 2025 17:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Hong 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.
In pictures: Super Typhoon Ragasa hurtles towards China
Tuesday 23 September 2025 17:00
,
Stuti Mishra
After making its way through the Philippines, Super Typhoon Ragasa is hurtling towards southern China, where authorities are bracing for landfall by one of the strongest storms in years.
See the damage and preparations in photos.
Hong Kong to consider increasing alert level as Ragasa inches closer
Tuesday 23 September 2025 16:30
,
Stuti Mishra
The Hong Kong Observatory says it could increase its warning level as the typhoon comes closer tonight.
The city has already issued a No 8 signal – the third highest on the scale.
The next highest warning would be No 9, meaning gale-force winds are currently blowing or expected to increase significantly in strength.
The top signal, No 10, means hurricane-force winds with sustained speeds reaching 118kmph or above and gusts that may exceed 220kmph.
The observatory will take a call between 11pm local time tonight and 3am tomorrow.
Watch how Super Typhoon Ragasa intensified
Tuesday 23 September 2025 16:00
,
Stuti Mishra
A 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
Two dead and 30 missing in Taiwan after typhoon
Tuesday 23 September 2025 15:34
,
Taz Ali
Two people have died and 30 people were missing in Taiwan after the the most powerful storm in the world so far this year passed through the island on Tuesday, authorities have said.
The Super Typhoon Ragasa brought heavy rains and severe flooding to Taiwan, leading to the collapse of a bridge, the island’s emergency department said.
Two people died and 30 people were missing in the eastern county of Hualien, where a barrier lake in the mountains burst its banks, sending a wall of water into the town of Guangfu.
About 60cm (24 inches) of rainfall was recorded in eastern Taiwan due to the typhoon, Reuters reported.
Super Typhoon Ragasa maintains its strength
Tuesday 23 September 2025 15:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Super 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.
Photos: Residents stock up on supplies ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa
Tuesday 23 September 2025 15:00
,
Stuti Mishra
Typhoon Ragasa: Your rights if your flight or holiday is cancelled
Tuesday 23 September 2025 14:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Tens 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.
At least three people killed in Philippines, thousands displaced
Tuesday 23 September 2025 14:00
,
Stuti Mishra
At 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.
Super Typhoon Ragasa mapped
Tuesday 23 September 2025 13:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Here’s the path and arrival time of Super Typhoon Ragasa
When is Super Typhoon Ragasa set to make landfall in China?
Tuesday 23 September 2025 13:00
,
Stuti Mishra
China'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.
Photos: People wade through flooded streets in Philippines
Tuesday 23 September 2025 12:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Water levels in Hong Kong could rise by up to 5 metres as Ragasa nears
Tuesday 23 September 2025 12:05
,
Stuti Mishra
Hong Kong is bracing for storm surges of up to five metres tomorrow morning as Super Typhoon Ragasa sweeps across the South China Sea, authorities have warned.
The government said water levels along the coast could reach similar heights to those seen during Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 – disasters that left the city counting billions in losses and paralysed its transport system.
Schools across Hong Kong and the neighbouring casino hub of Macao were closed, while hundreds of flights were cancelled at Hong Kong International Airport. Shenzhen airport announced it would halt all flights from tonight.
Macao officials said residents and tourists were being evacuated, and bridges in and out of the territory would shut by evening. In southern China, cities including Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Foshan in Guangdong province, and Haikou in Hainan province, have ordered class suspensions and the gradual closure of businesses, production and transport.
Hong Kong to consider increasing alert level as Ragasa inches closer
Tuesday 23 September 2025 11:40
,
Stuti Mishra
The Hong Kong Observatory says it could increase its warning level as the typhoon comes closer tonight.
The city has already issued a No 8 signal – the third highest on the scale.
The next highest warning would be No 9, meaning gale-force winds are currently blowing or expected to increase significantly in strength.
The top signal, No 10, means hurricane-force winds with sustained speeds reaching 118kmph or above and gusts that may exceed 220kmph.
The observatory will take a call between 11pm local time tonight and 3am tomorrow.
'King of storms'
Tuesday 23 September 2025 11:17
,
Stuti Mishra
Super Typhoon Ragasa is believed to be the most powerful storm the world has seen this year.
The China Meteorological Administration has described Ragasa as the "King of Storms".
The storm intensified quickly to a Category 5 equivalent on Sunday and packed winds of 260kmph (162 mph) at its peak on Monday.
It's expected to be more destructive than the other typhoons that have made landfall in China's Guangdong province earlier this year and could bring storm surges similar to those caused by Typhoon Mangkhut, which inundated parts of Hong Kong in 2018.
Photos: Authorities hand out sandbags for residents
Tuesday 23 September 2025 10:50
,
Stuti Mishra
Hong Kong Stock Exchange to remain open
Tuesday 23 September 2025 10:30
,
Stuti Mishra
The 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
Tuesday 23 September 2025 10:10
,
Stuti Mishra
Photos: Super Typhoon Ragasa triggers landslides and floods in Philippines
Tuesday 23 September 2025 09:50
,
Stuti Mishra
A 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
Tuesday 23 September 2025 09:30
,
Stuti Mishra
Tens 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.
Seawater gushes from a drainage outlet amid storm surge from Super Typhoon Ragasa in Hong Kong
Tuesday 23 September 2025 09:00
,
Stuti Mishra
Photos: Workers tape glass doors and windows
Tuesday 23 September 2025 08:30
,
Stuti Mishra
When is Super Typhoon Ragasa set to make landfall in China?
Tuesday 23 September 2025 08:00
,
Stuti Mishra
China'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
Tuesday 23 September 2025 07:35
,
Simon Calder
More 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
Tuesday 23 September 2025 07:20
,
Stuti Mishra
Boats brought into Victoria Harbour as Hong Kong braces for Super Typhoon Ragasa
Tuesday 23 September 2025 07:05
,
Stuti Mishra
Vessels were moved into Victoria Harbour with Ragasa looming in the distance, as the city prepares for gale-force winds and storm surges.
Photos: Residents stock up on supplies ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa
Tuesday 23 September 2025 06:41
,
Stuti Mishra
Hong Kong airport warns of ‘significant disruption’ as Ragasa nears
Tuesday 23 September 2025 06:20
,
Stuti Mishra
Hong 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.
AAH