Typhoon Egay

From PAGASA (our local weather bureau), at 2:00 p.m. today, Typhoon Egay (international code: Sepat) was located based on satellite and surface data 450 km east southeast of Aparri, Cagayan (17.7ºN, 126.2ºE) with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph. It is forecast to move northwest at 15 kph. Moderate to strong southwesterly surface windflow prevailing over Luzon and western sections of Visayas. The satellite photo here (taken 2007-08-16 13:11 GMT) shows the dog's head (storm) about to bite the northern portion of Luzon, but the entire country is covered by vicious clouds.

After being lashed by a typhoon last week, here we go again! Although the typhoons didn't traverse land, lots of rain did the actual damage. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of crops and infrastructure are destroyed. Several levees are collapsing, no match to nature's fury.

For many people, especially policy makers, when they talk about the so-called global warming phenomenon, they become so abstract and academic as if it becomes a game for them. Perhaps that's the kind of attitude because they don't know what to do! With this prevailing attitude, nothing will come out from the warnings of several scientists. For us here in the Philippines, we actually feel the painful effects of the weather gone mad. I can't quantify it, but the storms that come our way through the years have become more devastating and claimed more lives. I'm afraid that there is no solution in sight.