RSS
Home
Taiwan braces for super typhoon Parma with Melor not far behind
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Filipinos wade through flood waters while preparing for another typhoon (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Taiwanese flock to markets and stores today, but it isn't because this is one of their biggest holidays, Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. With Typhoon Morakot, a massive storm which left at least 619 people dead last month after record rain and flooding, still fresh in their memories, Taiwanese are preparing for another typhoon and possibly a super typhoon as the coming storm's winds may top out above 115 mph. Worse yet, there is a possibility of another typhoon merging with the first.
The first of the typhoons, Parma, is currently over the Philippines, just days after Typhoon Ketsana dumped record amounts of rain on the island, causing at least 293 deaths in the ensuing floods. It looks like Parma may add damage to the already drenched island because of it's high winds.
The second typhoon, Melor, is traveling in the same west north-westerly direction as Parma, but is further out to sea and rather than merging with Parma, may instead threaten Japan or China.
Southeast Asia and the Pacific has already had a difficult season, not only because of typhoons, but also earthquakes and their ensuing tsunamis. In the last week alone: the Philippines received record rain and floods from Ketsana; the Samoas and Tonga are picking up the pieces after a tsunami caused by an earthquake on Tuesday struck the islands, leaving at least 160 dead; an earthquake struck Indonesia Wednesday causing a massive death toll of more than 1000 with many still missing.
As Taiwanese begin their festivities for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, they have more reasons than normal to pray to their ancestors and local gods for safety.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpg)
