Typhoon Haima makes landfall in the Philippines
Typhoon Haima made landfall on north-eastern Luzon in the Philippines near Baguio Point, Peñablanca, Cagayan, as a Category 4-equivalent storm at 11pm local on Wednesday October 19.
The estimated wind speeds of 212 kilometres per hour and minimum central pressure of 915 millibars threatens the already saturated island with dangerous flooding, landslides and wind damage, according to catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide.
The storm follows Category 3-equivalent Typhoon Sarika, which made landfall on Luzon, Haima, the most populated of the Philippine islands.
Haima is expected to primarily impact Apayao and Ilocos Norte provinces as it crosses Luzon, although other areas of Luzon, due to the size of the storm.
AIR suggested Haima could cause some substantial damage to property in the impacted area, and storm surge could result in substantial damage along the coast and exacerbate precipitation-induced flooding.
In the Cagayan Provice, the government has government initiated forced evacuations from towns along the Cagayan River.
Haima will enter the South China Sea as a somewhat weaker storm, and is project to affect Taiwan with strong winds.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall in eastern Guangdong Province, China on Friday local time.
According to AIR, current projections have the storm missing Hong Kong, although authorities there have issued a “black rainstorm warning,” which cautions “serious flooding and traffic congestion.”
