MANILA - Super Typhoon Ragasa unleashed strong winds and heavy rain on Cagayan on Monday, causing trees to sway and large waves to form along the coast of the northeastern Philippine province.
Authorities suspended work and classes across Metro Manila and large parts of the country. State weather officials also raised the highest typhoon warning over the remote Babuyan Islands to the north of the main Philippine island of Luzon, urging residents in low-lying and coastal communities to evacuate ahead of storm surges and possible flooding.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 205 kph (127 mph) and gusts of up to 250 kph, Ragasa was forecast to make landfall or brush past the Babuyan Islands around mid-day before crossing the Luzon Strait.
Philippine forecasters warned of widespread power outages, landslides, and dangerous seas as the storm's outer bands began lashing northern Luzon. Airlines have cancelled more than a dozen domestic flights, mostly on Luzon routes, while ports have suspended ferry services.
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