Typhoon Goni, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Rolly, is a currently weak tropical cyclone that recently made landfall as an extremely powerful Category 5–equivalent super typhoon on Catanduanes Island in the Philippines and became the strongest land falling tropical cyclone on record with sustained winds of 140mph (225km/h) and gusts of 174mph.

Goni originated as a tropical depression southwest of Guam on October 26, named as Tropical Storm Goni on October 27 and on the next day, Goni explosively intensified over the Philippine Sea, becoming a Category 5–equivalent super typhoon on October 30. It is the strongest tropical cyclone observed worldwide thus far in 2020 and one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record.

Typhoon Aftermath

    • Following its first landfall, Goni rapidly weakened while it moved over the Philippines.

    • The storm brought severe flash flooding to Legazpi, as well as lahars from the nearby Mayon Volcano.

    • There were widespread power outages as well as damaged power and transmission lines in the Bicol Region.

    • Crops were heavily damaged.

    • Over 390,000 individuals have been displaced in the region out of 1 million evacuated.

    • At least 20 people died due to the typhoon.

    • The COVID-19 pandemic has been a concern for people in evacuation centers.

    • After it moved into the South China Sea, it subsequently weakened into a tropical depression.

The Philippines has about 20 typhoons and storms each year. It is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)