Manila. Thousands of people have been evacuated and schools and offices have been closed after Typhoon Ragasasa, the most powerful typhoon of the year, threatened the northern Philippines and neighbouring Taiwan.

The typhoon has raised a high risk of flooding and landslides in southeastern China, officials have warned. Ragasa recorded sustained winds of 215 kph (134 mph) and gusts of 265 kph (165 mph).

According to Philippine forecasters, it is centered east of the city of Calayan Island in Cagayan province and is moving west at 20 kilometers per hour (12 miles per hour). It is expected to make landfall near Cagayan’s Babuyan Islands on Monday afternoon or evening.

The Philippine Meteorological Agency issued a warning of deadly waves of up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) in the next 24 hours along the coasts of Cagayan, Batanes, Ilocos Norte and Elocos Sur.

Power has been cut off in the provinces of Kalayan and Apayao. So far, there have been no reports of casualties or major damage from Ragasa, locally known as Nando. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has suspended government work and classes in the capital Manila and 29 provinces in the northern Luzon region.

In Cagayan, more than 8,200 people have been evacuated to safer places, while 1,220 people have been shifted to emergency shelters in fear of flash floods and landslides.

Domestic flights to the northern province have been suspended due to the storm. Fishing boats and inter-island traffic have been instructed not to leave the port.

Ragasa is the 14th seasonal disturbance to hit the Philippines this year, with both Congress and Congress under investigation for corruption scandals that have led to shoddy or non-existent flood control projects.

According to forecasts, Ragasa will remain in the South China Sea until Wednesday, passing south of Taiwan and Hong Kong before entering mainland China. In Taiwan, some coastal and mountainous areas of Taitung and Pingtung counties, as well as orchids and Green Islands, have been ordered to close.

In Hong Kong, twice as much sand bags have been made available in flood-prone areas. Macau police have urged people living in low-lying areas to prepare for possible evacuations.

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit China’s Guangdong province from Tuesday. Schools, offices, factories and transport services were suspended in the cities of Jiangmen, Yangjiang, Zhongshan and Zhuhai.

According to China’s Meteorological Agency, Ragasa could land in Guangdong more than once. Authorities have urged residents to stock up on emergency supplies, strengthen doors and windows and evacuate underground areas.