Super Typhoon Mangkhut, known as Super Typhoon Ompong in the Philippines, is currently equivalent to a category 5 Atlantic hurricane, with winds of at least 252 kilometers per hour (157 mph), stronger than Florence, which is expected to cause massive flooding and devastation in the Carolinas.
Mangkhut has already swept past the US territory of Guam, in the western Pacific, where it caused flooding and power outages. The storm is expected to strengthen strengthen further in the next 24 to 48 hours, according to CNN Meteorologist Michael Guy, before it weakens slightly to a category 4 equivalent storm as it approaches the the Philippines island of Luzon.
Even so, Guy said will come "dangerously close to clipping the country," causing heavy rain and flooding in the island's north, where local authorities are preparing relief goods and security forces have been put on alert.
The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System said in total up to 43.3 million people could be affected by the storm in the Philippines and southern China.
More than three million people live in northern Luzon, which is sparsely populated compared to other parts of the island. The Pearl River Delta region, which includes Hong Kong and Macau, is among the most densely populated in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment