Typhoon “Matmo” made landfall in the northern part of the Philippines on Friday, October 3, and is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain. The typhoon is forecasted to make a second landfall along the southern coast of China.
According to the latest announcement from the Philippine National Meteorological Bureau, Typhoon “Matmo” is currently located near San Guillermo in Isabela Province on Luzon Island, with maximum sustained winds near the center reaching 130 kilometers per hour (81 miles per hour).
Due to the impact of Typhoon “Matmo,” public services in the northern provinces of Luzon Island have been temporarily suspended, and schools are closed. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has reported that more than ten domestic flights have been canceled.
The meteorological bureau has warned that “Matmo” could bring over 200 mm (8 inches) of heavy rain to the provinces of Isabela, Aurora, and Quirino on Luzon Island, leading to widespread severe flooding and landslides.
According to the forecast by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the U.S. Navy, after crossing Luzon Island, “Matmo” is expected to re-enter the South China Sea and gradually intensify with the assistance of warm ocean currents and weak wind shear.
The latest forecast from the Hong Kong Observatory indicates that Typhoon “Matmo” is projected to strengthen into a strong typhoon, with maximum sustained winds reaching 155 kilometers per hour – equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It is expected to make a second landfall on the Leizhou Peninsula in southern China.
The China Meteorological Administration has forecasted the possibility of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Hainan Island and the coastal areas of Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guangdong from this weekend to next Monday. The meteorological department has issued a yellow warning.
Guangxi and Yunnan are important sugar-producing regions in China, and Typhoon “Matmo” may have an impact on agricultural crops in these areas.
In recent weeks, the Philippines has been hit by several deadly typhoons and is still in the process of recovery.
Recently, Typhoon “Bualoi” has caused at least 51 deaths in Vietnam and 27 fatalities in the Philippines. Prior to that, Super Typhoon “Ragasa” wreaked havoc from the Philippines to Taiwan and Hong Kong, causing severe damage.
The Philippines is one of the countries most severely affected by typhoons globally, with around 20 cyclones crossing the country annually. In 2013, the disaster caused by Super Typhoon “Haiyan” resulted in over 6,000 deaths.
(This article references reports from Bloomberg)