It has been nothing but continual rain here since Sunday. By Monday, classes were suspended in all elementary and high schools in Metro Manila and in other areas affected by public storm signals. Typhoon Glenda hit Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gustiness of up to 185 kph. Heavy rains affected Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilcoso Sur, Kalinga, Abra, Mt. Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Isabela, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan. Although schools resumed their classes today, Tuesday, the rains have started once again early this morning due to another incoming storm.Over in southern Japan, the heavy rains that fell over the past week triggered numerous mudslides and flooding that were responsible for killing 21 people with several still missing. The worst affected region was Kagoshima prefecture, on the southern tip of the island, which has been battered by rain in recent days.
In Montvale, New Jersey, Lee Weisbrod, 19, of River Vale, and Steven Fagan, 18, of Woodcliff Lake, died at a local hospital Saturday after suffering severe burns and trauma from a lightning strike. The two other teens with the victims, identified only as 16- and 19-year-old Montvale residents, were treated at a local hospital Saturday night and released, authorities said.
The four had arrived at Montvale Memorial School around 6 p.m. Saturday, but waited for a rain storm to let up before taking the field to play soccer, police said. When a violent storm swept back in, the two unidentified teens ran for shelter while Weisbrod and Fagan decided to walk off the field and got hit by the lightning.
Whereas, the recent string of odd weather reports in the northeast region of the United States stir global warming debate — the floods that forced up to 200,000 evacuees from a historic Pennsylvania coal town followed a year of erratic weather in other parts of the region, including record rainfall in May and June in Massachusetts, a spring-like January in Maine and Vermont's worst autumn foliage in memory.
Photo credit: NASA
While you are experiencing heavy rains and typhoons there, we here are experiencing very hot and dry weather. There are forest fires here and there.
ReplyDeleteYou have mentioned global warming in your 2 latest posts. I've just seen the movie, "The Day After Tomorrow" and it's really frightening to think about it's long term effects.
I remember the heat wave that would sweep through the NY region, Niceheart, which would make the intense summer months in Metro Manila pale in comparison. And the past heat wave over in Europe was just as devastating.
ReplyDeleteMore than anything, my concern in this global warming issue reflects my concern for all the world's children and their children. I wouldn't want any of them to experience our planet a less hospitable place than it is already becoming.
I have a DVD of that movie and had seen it a couple of times. There's one I want to get -- Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth.
I don't know...Maybe as that Reuters report states, these could be undeniable signs that global warming is already showing its ugly fangs on Mother Earth. Maybe its good to research if in the past, rainstorms were as harsh as this when almost everytime, cities and localities in India and China are deluged in such gigantic floods. I see them on CNN and I could exclaim loudly how terrible they were. And to think, the Ormoc incident was such a fresh memory to forget...I think, President Bush and the rest of the so-called industrial world should be listening to the signs of the times...
ReplyDeleteBTW, I've tagged you for a tagging game from Sam of Corgito Ergo Sam...You don' t have to do it if you wishes so...
If anything, Major Tom, a newly-elected Democrat in the White House might be intrepid enough to sign the Kyoto Protocol. But until then, I will keep reminding others about climate changes. And I trust you will keep doing same with your writings.
ReplyDeleteI will post meme from you shortly. Still having problems with Blogger.com :(
Kerry probably would have signed Kyoto, but Kyoto is NOT a magic bullet by any means. China is charging full speed ahead into their industrial age and they have proven themselves to be awesome polluters. The rest of the less deveoped world is seeking their own economic piece of the pie as well, and none of them are under the strictures of Kyoto. In the interest of "economically catching up," they are free to emit as much as they want, and they ARE.
ReplyDeletei read the other day in PDI that the typhoon was actually named Gloria, until the people in-charge changed their mind and called it Glenda instead, funny he he!
ReplyDeletePoint well taken, Phil. Made me immediately think of the street vendors in Metro Manila, who justify their blocking city streets and sidewalks with making a living stance. Indeed, China has become a major polluter.
ReplyDeleteNotwithstanding, Phil, your opinions are always welcome because you remind us of certain facts we might not be considering or articulating.
Actually, it would be interesting for you to write an entry about this whole Kyoto Protocol affair, and I will invite Major Tom to come and visit. I'm positive we'll learn something from your thoughts. And I mean this sincerely. Thanks!
That would have been hysterical, Jairam. I wish they went ahead and named it GLORIA.
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