Monster storms’ deadly toll
Mangkhut heads for China, Florence causes flooding
Typhoon Mangkhut left at least 28 people dead in the Philippines as it headed for southern China, while Florence killed 12 in the southeastern United States as it hit with high winds and heavy rains.
Mangkhut was roaring toward densely populated Hong Kong and southern China overnight after ravaging the northern Philippines with ferocious winds and heavy rain that caused landslides and collapsed houses.
Meanwhile in North Carolina, where hundreds have already been pulled from their homes because of rising waters, Florence had authorities bracing for what could be the next stage of a still-unfolding disaster: Widespread, catastrophic river flooding.
After blowing ashore as a hurricane with 145km/h winds, Florence virtually parked itself much of the weekend atop the Carolinas as it pulled warm water from the ocean and hurled it onshore.
Storm surges, flash floods and winds scattered destruction widely across the states and the Marines, the Coast Guard, civilian crews and volunteers used helicopters, boats and heavy-duty vehicles to conduct rescues yesterday.
Mangkhut, the strongest storm so far this year in the world, sliced across the northern tip of Luzon Island on Saturday, a breadbasket that is also a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of deadly landslides.
More than 5 million people were in the path of the typhoon, equivalent to a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane when it hit the Philippines.
Yesterday, Mangkhut packed sustained winds of 155km/h and gusts of 190km/h.
Hong Kong and southern China issued the highest storm signals. The Guangdong provincial office in charge of flood prevention said yesterday that nearly half a million people had been evacuated from seven cities.
The Hong Kong Observatory said although Mangkhut had weakened slightly, its extensive, intense rain bands were bringing heavy downfall and frequent squalls.
A storm surge of about 31⁄ metres or higher is expected at the city’s waterfront Victoria Harbour, the observatory said, appealing to the public to avoid the shoreline.
Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde said 20 people had died in the Cordillera mountain region, four in nearby Nueva Vizcaya province and one outside of the two regions.
Three more deaths were reported in northeastern Cagayan province, where the typhoon made landfall.
About 87,000 people had evacuated from high-risk areas of the Philippines.
Francis Tolentino, an adviser to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, and other officials advised them not to return home until the lingering danger had passed.
In Hong Kong, Security Minister John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to prepare for the worst.
In nearby Fujian province in China, 51,000 people were evacuated from fishing boats and around 11,000 vessels returned to port.
Forecasters in the United States warned that rivers were swelling toward record levels and thousands of people were ordered to evacuate for fear that the next few days could bring the most destructive round of flooding in North Carolina history.
Authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of up to 7500 people living within 1.6km of a stretch of the Cape Fear River and the Little River, about 160km from the North Carolina coast. The evacuation zone included part of the city of Fayetteville, population 200,000.
More than 60cm of rain had fallen in places in North Carolina by yesterday afternoon, and forecasters said there could be a further 45cm by the end of today. Florence was also causing flooding in South Carolina and southwestern Virginia.