Worst Typhoons in the Philippines

Philippines, being in the realm of the Pacific Ocean is always subjected to experience tropical cyclones known locally among the people as “bagyo”. Many typhoons are expected to enter Philippine area of responsibility every year. These bagyo’s are named alphabetically by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Philippine agency committed to provide astronomical, climatological and meteorological warnings to secure human life and property against calamities and fight against economic fall down and protract the country’s economic development.

Philippine tropical cyclones or bagyo is classified into four categories based on the speed of the wind kilometer per hour (kph):

1. Tropical depressions with 55 kph and 64 kph maximum sustained winds from its center;

2. Tropical storms with 65 kph to 119 kph maximum sustained winds;

3. Typhoons with 120 kph to 185 kph maximum sustained winds and;

4. Super Typhoons or Super Bagyo exceeding 185 kph maximum winds.

With more or less seven typhoons in the Philippines every year, millions to billions of damages are able to acquire by the country. The deadliest ever recorded super typhoon that hit Philippines happened in 1991 when Super Typhoon Thelma caused five thousand to eight thousand lives. Super typhoon Pepeng in 2009 on the other hand is the most destructive among Philippine bagyo causing the country P27. 3 billion or US $ 608 million damages.