MIRINAE HITS PHILIPPINES, LEAVING 14 DEAD

Typhoon Mirinae hit Philippines and on the way to
Vietnam . Image source:NMOC*

"We saw many
shanty-type houses
that had been washed away
and residents frantically try to get
hold of their household material,"said
videographer James Reynolds

I feel very sad to have heard news of natural disasters which have occurred lately in several neighboring countries.

The latest incident was that the main island of Luzon, Philippines was hit by typhoon Mirinae on early Saturday morning resulting in at least 14 people dead, toppling trees and damaging more than 5,500 houses with fierce winds.
Mirinae was the fourth storm to lash Philippines in a month. Since late September, typhoons Ketsana, Parma and Lupit combined killed more than 850 people, with Ketsana delivering the Philippines heaviest rainfall in 40 years. 87,000 people are still living in evacuation centers, officials said.

The storm headed out over the South China Sea and was swirling 279 miles (450 kilometers) southwest of Manila early today but could still bring rains and thunderstorms to western Palawan province, forecasters said.

It was expected to strike Vietnam's central coast around noon Monday.

I would like to convey my deepest sympathies and condolences to the people of Philippines for the mishaps and miseries they are suffering. Meanwhile, I hope Mirinae will bring less hardship to the people of Vietnam.

*NMOC is Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command