Super Typhoon Ragasa slams Luzon, upends regional travel

Published on Sep 22, 2025, 9:18 am CDT

6 min read

Super Typhoon Ragasa, locally called Nando in the Philippines, is battering the far north of Luzon as authorities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and coastal China activate high-level storm plans. Evacuations, airport curtailments, and extensive ferry suspensions are rippling across the region. Hong Kong is preparing for a rare multi-day halt to passenger flights, while Taiwan has canceled services to its outlying islands and eastern airports. In the Philippines, domestic flights in northern provinces and inter-island sea travel have been suspended as life-threatening storm surge and destructive winds move through the Luzon Strait.

Key Points

Why it matters: Ragasa is among 2025's strongest storms, disrupting aviation and ferries across multiple hubs.
Travel impact: Hong Kong plans a 36-hour airport shutdown; Taiwan axes island flights and 88 ferry legs.
What's next: Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 is expected in Hong Kong on September 23, with widespread cancellations.
Philippine domestic flights in northern Luzon and multiple sea routes are suspended due to dangerous conditions.
Shenzhen plans mass relocations and will halt flights, while Fujian has suspended dozens of ferry routes.

Snapshot

Ragasa made landfall over islands off Cagayan in northern Luzon with sustained winds near 215 km per hour and higher gusts. Manila suspended government work and classes in large parts of Luzon as the storm tracks west toward the South China Sea. Taiwan's weather service issued sea and land warnings, prompting cancellation of all post-noon flights to outlying islands and suspension of 88 ferry services on 13 routes. In Hong Kong, authorities signaled a likely escalation to Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 on September 23, and carriers began preemptive cuts. China's coastal provinces prepared evacuations, ferry shutdowns, and airport suspensions, with Shenzhen planning to stop flights Tuesday night.

Background

Ragasa, known locally as Nando, intensified rapidly over the Philippine Sea before crossing the Luzon Strait. The Philippine weather bureau warned of storm surge exceeding 3 meters along exposed coasts in Batanes, northern Cagayan, and the Ilocos region, while the Coast Guard restricted inter-island sailings. Taiwan's Central News Agency reported widespread transport curbs, including flight cancellations to outlying islands and suspensions on main island-island ferry corridors. The Hong Kong Observatory placed the territory under Standby Signal No. 1, with guidance that Signal No. 8 is likely on September 23 as the storm nears. Coastal China's response includes route suspensions in Fujian and planned flight halts and relocations in Guangdong. Airlines in the region have activated flexible ticketing and large-scale schedule reductions.

Latest Developments

Hong Kong readies 36-hour halt at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Airport Authority preparations and airline notices point to a rare 36-hour suspension of passenger flights, beginning the evening of September 23 through the morning of September 25, pending official confirmation. Cathay Pacific issued flexible ticketing and disruption notices and is preparing extensive cancellations. The Hong Kong Observatory kept Standby Signal No. 1 in force, with No. 8 possible on September 23, which typically triggers broad public transport and ferry suspensions. Major outlying-island operators state services will suspend when Signal No. 8 is hoisted, and container terminals cease yard operations under T8. Authorities also flagged flood-prone areas such as Tai O for preventive measures as winds strengthen into midweek.

Taiwan cancels outlying-island flights, suspends 88 ferry services

Taiwan's carriers canceled all flights between the main island and Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu after noon on September 22, with additional cancellations to Hualien Airport (HUN) and Taitung Airport (TTT). China Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan announced international cuts and retimings on routes touching Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA), Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH), and Japan-Korea markets. Ferry operators suspended 88 sailings across 13 routes, including Donggang-Liuqiu and other southern corridors. Authorities maintained sea and land warnings and closed offices and schools in multiple counties as heavy rain bands pushed onshore, especially in Hualien, Taitung, Pingtung, and coastal mountains.

Northern Philippines sees domestic flight and sea-travel suspensions

PAGASA reported destructive winds and coastal inundation risk across Batanes and northern Cagayan. Domestic flights serving Laoag International Airport (LAO), Tuguegarao Airport (TUG), and Basco Airport (BSO) faced cancellations, while inter-island ferries in northern Luzon were suspended by the Philippine Coast Guard. National agencies ordered closures of schools and government offices across large parts of Luzon, with evacuations in exposed communities. Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) and Clark International Airport (CRK) remained operational, but carriers warned of knock-on delays as the system exits into the South China Sea and threatens southern China, including Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX), where a shutdown is planned for Tuesday night.

Analysis

For travelers, Ragasa's timing and track are uniquely disruptive across four high-traffic air markets. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) handling cuts over a 36-hour window will strand aircraft and crews, which in turn will ripple through long-haul banks and regional connectors for days. Cathay Pacific and partners are already moving to consolidate flights and protect wide-body rotations. In Taiwan, canceling all outlying-island links after noon creates predictable capacity gaps to Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, and the suspension of 88 ferry services eliminates redundancy. Eastern Taiwan airports, notably Hualien and Taitung, are prone to terrain-enhanced winds and rain, so early cancellations reduce operational risk and prevent aircraft from being trapped. In the Philippines, suspending northern Luzon flights and coastal ferries aligns with storm-surge and crosswind hazards in the Luzon Strait. On the mainland side, Shenzhen's planned pause and Fujian's route suspensions point to a broad coastal transport slowdown, likely affecting Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN), Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC), and Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (SWA) through knock-on effects, even where runways remain open. Expect recovery to be uneven, with outlying islands and coastal ferries slower to restart than trunk air routes.

Final Thoughts

If you hold tickets touching HKG, TPE, TSA, or KHH between September 23 and 25, use airline apps now to rebook, and avoid airport queues. If you are ticketed to northern Luzon, verify status for LAO, TUG, and BSO before traveling to the airport. Ferry travel in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Fujian is likely paused during peak warnings, so shift to rail where feasible once lines reopen. Pack patience, protect buffer time, and watch official alerts for Signal No. 8 in Hong Kong and local bulletins in Taiwan and the Philippines as Super Typhoon Ragasa evolves.