19 October 2010
Typhoon Megi and the Philippines
Posted by Dave Petley
In the last 24 hours Typhoon Megi has tracked from east to west across northern Luzon in the Philippines (map from here):
At the time of landfall this was a true super typhoon. Even in its current weakened state it is generating gusts of up to 195 kph. Inevitably, it has brought very heavy rainfall to the north of the Philippines, although to date there is no news of any large landslide accidents. However, at the moment the storm appears to be stalled just offshore (see PAGASA satellite image below), which is the scenario that often leads to prolonged intense local rainfall and thus significant slope problems.
Tropical Storm Risk are forecasting that this typhoon will track northwestwards and will strengthen to landfall to the west of Hong Kong. If this forecast is correct then there must be the potential for substantial landslide and flood occurrence in southern China in the next few days.
Dave Petley is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. His blog provides commentary and analysis of landslide events occurring worldwide, including the landslides themselves, latest research, and conferences and meetings.
A landslide report in the Philippines:http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/10/18/10/landslide-isolates-barangay-apayao"MANILA, Philippines – A minor landslide has cut off land access to barangay Lenneng in Kabugao, Apayao province Monday morning, the Philippine National Police said.PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said the landslide poured rock and debris on Kabugao National Road in Apayao province, rendering it impassable to all types of vehicles as of 7 a.m. He said the PNP has put all reserve assets on standby for possible deployment to clear roads and highways all over the country."
A second report in Taiwan:http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2010/10/23/200348667432 vehicles carrying 400 people were stranded between the 113km and 115km markers on the section of Suhua Highway between Yilan County’s Suao (蘇澳) and Dongao (東澳) townships following the landslides, said Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺), who doubles as commander of the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC).
BBC story on the Taiwan coastal landslide has one photohttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11606205of a slide on a "coastal highway" (unspecified). Also this account"A torrent of mud struck a Buddhist temple in Suao, killing three people and leaving six more missing."
i got mine from typhoonphilippines.com.. is this a good site?