Manila: Sixteen domestic flights were canceled on Monday due to inclement weather, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced.

According to Philippines News Agency, the decision to cancel flights was made as Super Typhoon Nando, internationally known as Ragasa, intensified. The typhoon is now packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center with gustiness reaching up to 265 kph, as reported in the weather bureau’s 8 a.m. bulletin. The cyclone poses a significant threat to the Babuyan Islands and has been causing strong winds and heavy rains across various parts of Luzon.

Flights affected include those operated by Airswift, with routes such as El Nido to Busuanga and vice versa. Philippine Airlines also saw multiple cancellations, impacting routes from Manila to Laoag, Clark to Basco, and Manila to Tuguegarao, among others. Cebu Pacific canceled its Manila to Laoag flights as well.

The southwest monsoon, enhanced by Nando, is largely responsible for the adverse weather conditions, leading to the flight disruptions. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the typhoon progresses.