Typhoon Yagi | 17 Sep 2024
Recently, Typhoon Yagi has caused severe damage across Southeast Asia, affecting the Philippines, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and particularly Vietnam.
- It is the strongest tropicalcyclone Asia has encountered till September 2024 and the second most powerful globally after Hurricane Beryl (Atlantic Ocean).
- It originated as a tropical storm (wind speed upto 63 kmph) in the western Philippine Sea but became Category 5 typhoon with winds of 260 kmph.
- The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale categorizes tropical cyclones from Category 1 (119-153 kmph) to Category 5 (252 kmph or higher). Storms reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major tropical cyclones due to their potential for significant damage."
- Storm systems with winds of 119 kmph and above are classified as hurricanes, typhoons, or tropical cyclones."
- India launched Operation “Sadbhav” to provide aid and urgent supplies to Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.
- Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader effort to contribute to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) within the ASEAN region, in line with its longstanding ‘Act East Policy’.
- Reasons for More Intense Typhoons: Global mean sea surface temperatures have increased by approximately 0.9°C since 1850, and about 0.6°C in the past four decades.
- Higher sea surface temperatures drive marine heat waves and increased evaporation, leading to more intense typhoons that form closer to coastlines and intensify rapidly.
Note: Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai, China. It is the strongest storm to hit Shanghai in 75 years. It is rare for Shanghai to get a direct hit from strong typhoons, which tend to make landfall further south in China.
