Typhoon Bopha (international designation: 1224, JTWC designation: 26W, PAGASA designation: Pablo) was the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit the southern Philippine
island of Mindanao, making landfall as a Category 5 super typhoon with winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). Bopha originated unusually close to the equator, becoming the second-most
southerly Category 5 super typhoon, reaching a minimum latitude of 7.4°N
on December 3. Only Typhoon Louise of 1964 came closer to the equator at
this strength, at 7.3°N. After first hitting Palau, where it destroyed houses, disrupted communications
and caused power outages, flooding and uprooted trees, Bopha made landfall
late on December 3 on Mindanao, an island that had been devastated by Tropical
Storm Washi in December 2011.The storm caused widespread destruction on
Mindanao, leaving thousands homeless and more than 600 fatalities.
After hitting Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley provinces, Typhoon Bopha
crossed the southern and central regions of Mindanao, cutting power to
two provinces and triggering landslides. More than 170,000 people fled
to evacuation centers. The typhoon moved to the South China Sea west of
the Palawan island province, eventually dissipating on December 9.
Formed |
November 25, 2012 |
Dissipated |
December 9, 2012 |
Highest winds |
10-minute sustained:
185 km/h (115 mph)
1-minute sustained:
260 km/h (160 mph) |
Lowest pressure |
930 mbar (hPa); 27.46 inHg |
Fatalities |
1047 total, 841 missing |
Damage |
$590 million (2012 USD) |
Areas affected |
Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Philippines |
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
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