Typhoon Rammasun

Typhoon Rammasun (also known as Glenda) has killed 20 people in the Philippines. 5 people have also been reported as missing. 460,000 people have been affected by the typhoon.

The storm gained its tropical depression status on 10^th July and on 12^th July it became a tropical storm and was named Rammasun. On 14^th July it gained typhoon status with winds of over 120 km/h and made landfall on the 15^th.

400,000 people were evacuated including 370,000 people in Albay, businesses and schools were also closed and flights cancelled. The typhoon made landfall over central Philippines affecting the capital Manila. Rammasun struck the country with winds of up to 185 km/h.

Thousands on the island of Luzon are currently without power. Rammasun has also uprooted trees and electricity poles, overturned vehicles and has caused damage to numerous homes in the Philippines.

 The death toll is likely to rise as the impact becomes clear over the next few days.

The typhoon is currently heading towards southern China and Vietnam at around 25 km/h. It has been downgraded to Category 1 but is predicted to become a Category 3 typhoon as it heads towards China and Vietnam.

Forecast track of Typhoon Rammasun (Source: Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

The AIRS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured this infrared image of powerful thunderstorms (purple) from Rammasun over the Philippines on July 15 (Source: NASA)

TRMM satellite passed over Rammasun on July 15 at 12:10 a.m (Source: NASA)

Source: NASA

Source: NASA