Typhoon Haiyan 'One Of The Strongest Storms Ever' Strikes The Philippines
By Countercurrents.org
08 October, 2013
Countercurrents.org
Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, strikes the Philippines with gusts of up to 200mph (320km/h). It has so far lashed central islands including Leyte and Samar, and the northern tip of Cebu - including Cebu city, the country's second largest with a population of 2.5 million. At least three people are killed and another seven injured, reports say
Meteorologists say that if initial estimates based on satellite images are borne out, it could be the most powerful storm ever to make landfall.
Millions of people in vulnerable areas are forced to seek shelter across 20 provinces. More than 12 million people are at risk from the storm, including in Cebu, the country's second largest city. Schools and offices are closed with ferry services and local flights suspended. Hospitals and soldiers are put on stand-by
President Benigno S. Aquino III warned residents Thursday that they face a "calamity," issuing mass evacuation orders in a national TV address.
"Let me repeat myself: This is a very real danger, and we can mitigate and lessen its effects if we use the information available to prepare," he said.
Haiyan is likely to hit at Category 5 strength, the third typhoon in the category to hit the Philippines since 2010.
The most recent Category 5 storm to hit the Philippines was the catastrophic Super Typhoon Bopha on December 3, 2012, which killed 1901 people and caused up to at $1.7 billion in damages.
"We don't have any measurements of Haiyan's central pressure, but it may be close to the all-time record of 870 mb set by Super Typhoon Tip [in 1979]," Masters reports.
AccuWeather adds:
The expected track of Haiyan will take it directly over the areas hardest hit by a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 150 people in the middle of October.
Haiyan will also produce a severe and inundating storm surge, especially along the eastern coast of southern Luzon and Samar islands.
Due to the heavy rains and high winds, severe flooding is expected.
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