Every year, the Philippines experiences around twenty typhoons, two to three of which become super typhoons.
Not only are infrastructure and agriculture affected, but the death toll is also high.
But how is a typhoon officially declared a super typhoon?
The Philippines is located in what is called Asia’s typhoon belt, which is why we frequently get hit by typhoons.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), a super typhoon is the highest category of typhoon.
But before it is considered a super typhoon, it begins as a tropical depression, where wind speeds reach 61 kph.
If the wind strengthens and reaches 62 to 88 kph, it becomes a tropical storm.
When it reaches 89 to 117 kph, it becomes a typhoon.
But if it exceeds 220 kph, it becomes a super typhoon.
A super typhoon lasts three to five days, from its formation until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
One example of a super typhoon that destroyed many areas and claimed more than six thousand lives in the Philippines was Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
The winds of Super Typhoon Yolanda reached almost 315 kph, making it the strongest recorded typhoon in history.
In just a few hours, an entire city was destroyed, including Tacloban City.
So when a typhoon strikes our area, we must stay alert, safe, and resourceful.
**VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
