Typhoon predicted to hit land again in China
The expected economic damage from Typhoon Megi has been revised down to US $200- $500m by catastrophe risk modeling company EQECAT.
After battering the northern Philippines, Megi is now a large category 4 typhoon and expected to intensify further over the next 24 hours as it moves over the South China Sea. Megi is expected to weaken to a category 2 typhoon before making its second landfall early Saturday, between Hong Kong and Zhanzhou, China.
Due to the size and intensity of the storm, EQECA said the typhoon is expected to cause significant wind and flood damage in China, including at least 10 feet of storm surge and heavy rains as it approaches the country's coast.
All provinces in southeast China are preparing for mass evacuations, but currently there is significant uncertainty regarding the storm track and its intensity.
Eleven deaths have been reported in the Philippine provinces of Pangasinan, Isabela, and Nueva Ecija following the typhoon's previous landfall. Isabela and Cagayan provinces suffered significant destruction to structures, transportation and agriculture property. The heaviest rainfall—approximately 20 inches—occurred in the mountains of central and northern Luzon with the mountain city of Bagiou receiving 20.54 inches of rainfall.
