Tropical Storm Higos - Oct 2008

BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- More than 88,900 people were killed or went missing in natural disasters in China in 2008, and about 470 million people were affected, according to a government report Wednesday.

More than 26.82 million people were relocated and the total direct economic loss was put at 1,175.24 billion yuan (172.16 billion U.S.

BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhua) - The Information Office of the State Council, or China's cabinet, published a white paper titled "China's Actions for Disaster Prevention and Reduction" Monday. Following is the full text:

China's Actions for Disaster Prevention and Reduction

Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China

Contents

Foreword

I. Natural Disasters in China

II. Strategic Goals and Tasks for Disaster Reduction

Executive summary

Disasters in the Philippines in 2006 affected 8.61 million families (approximately 10.4 per cent of the country's population) and caused the deaths of approximately 3,000 people (3.59 per 100,000 inhabitants). Poverty among 27.6 million Filipinos (more than 32 per cent of the population) increases impact of disasters. Communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, and HIV continue to pose significant challenges.

MANILA, 8 October 2008 (IRIN) - About 20 typhoons hit each year and earthquakes occur frequently as the island nation lies within the so-called "Ring of Fire" in Asia.

The last deadly earthquake struck Luzon Island in 1990, killing about 1,600 people.

DATE: 05 October 2008, 8:00 AM

References: PAGASA-DOST, PCG, OCDRCs III, V, VI, VII, VIII and CAR

1. SITUATION OVERVIEW

The active low pressure area (ALPA) east of Mindanao entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on 29 September at 4:00 PM and developed into a tropical depression named Pablo. It intensified into a tropical storm as it moved towards Samar-Leyte area and maintained its strength while moving off the coast of Eastern Samar. Tropical Storm Pablo made a landfall in the afternoon of September 30, 2008 over Eastern Samar and crossed the Bicol Region.

HAIKOU, Oct 05, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- Highway, rail and flight services have totally resumed in Hainan on Sunday as tropical storm Higos gradually weakened and left this southernmost island province of China, local authorities said.

Higos, the 17 tropical storm of the year, downgraded to a low pressure storm, left Hainan at 11 a.m.

BEIJING, Oct 03, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- China issued an orange alert on Friday for tropical storm Higos that was expected to bring gales and heavy rain to southern coastal areas from Friday to Saturday.

Higos, the 17th tropical storm of the year, will land on the eastern coastal area of the southern island province of Hainan between Friday evening and early Saturday morning, or shave the area and approach western Guangdong Province, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast.

The storm was at the central area of the South China Sea at 8 a.m.

DATE: 03 October 2008, 08:00 PM

Reference: PAFASA-DOST, PCG, OCDRCs lll, V, Vl, Vll, Vlll and CAR

1. SITUATION OVERVIEW

The active low pressure area (ALPA) east of Mindanao entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on 29 September at 4:00PM and developed into a tropical depression named Pablo. It intensified into a tropical storm as it moved toward Samar-Leyte area and maintained its strength while moving off the coast of Eastern Samar and crossed the Bicol Region.

HAIKOU, Oct 03, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- Ferry service on Qiongzhou Strait in south China was suspended as of 5 p.m.

DATE: 03 October 2008, 8:00 AM

Reference: PAGASA-DOST, Regions I, III, VI, VII, Vlll and CAR

Situation Overview

- The active low pressure area (ALPA) east of Mindanao entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on 29 September at 4:00 PM and developed into a tropical depression named Pablo

- On same date it intensified into a tropical storm as it moved towards Samar-Leyte area and maintained its strength while moving off the coast of Eastern Samar

- Tropical Storm Pablo made a landfall in the afternoon of September 30, 2008 over Eastern Samar and at 10 PM of the same …