Typhoon Bopha: Death Toll Rises in Philippines

Typhoon Bopha is the strongest ever tropical cyclone which hit Philippines. With the central winds at a speed of 120 kmph and gusts of around 150 kmph Typhoon Bopha swept away the dive spots as well as beach resorts on Palawan Island on 5 December 2012.

The worst hit area by Typhoon Bopha was southern island of Mindanao. Bopha had made a landfall here on 4 December 2012. This led to floods as well as landslides along the coast.

 
Typhoon Bopha has left 379 missing and almost 325 dead. The affected areas were cut off due to destroyed roads as well as collapsed bridges. Power cut and communication cut also became a hassle.

As of 5 December 2012 evening, Typhoon Bopha was over the South China Sea, which is west of Palawan province. Government forecasters declared that it could head towards Vietnam or southern China now.

Some facts:
•    Typhoon Bopha is also known as Pablo in Philippines and it arrived on 4 December 2012.
•    Typhoon is a tropical cyclone, fully mature and it develops in northwestern parts of Pacific Ocean. The deadliest typhoons have occurred in China.
•    Typhoon Bopha is considered two times deadlier than Hurricane Sandy, the storm which had affected Caribbean and eastern US six weeks ago.
•    Every year, around 20 typhoons as well as storms lash northern and central Philippines. However, these typhoons rarely affect southern Mindanao region.
•    The typhoon would move into South China Sea on 6 December 2012.
•    Typhoon Bopha followed the same route like that of Typhoon Washi which had taken over 1300 lives. But Typhoon Bopha is much stronger than Typhoon Washi but because of the early warnings, many lives have been saved now. Washi had come almost a year ago.