Between Hagibis and Mitag

(feeling lyke Ulysses between Scylla and Charybdis)

During the last few days (November 20 thru 27, 2007) we felt like Ulysses between Scylla and Charybdis.

Two depressions came over the Pacific (what a name!). First there was a tropical depression, Hagibis, called "Lando" in the Philippines. It passed north of Mindanao, between Negros and Panay. It was only classified as a Tropical Storm.
Then came Mitag, called "Mina" in the Philippines. Still over the waters it already got the label Typhoon. Both closed in on the Philippines.

Hagibis/Lando then headed in direction of Vietnam, but Mitag/Mina closed in on Luzon. Typhoon warning Level 4 was called out in the southern regions of Luzon.

Mitag/Mina killed 8 people on Luzon⁽¹⁾ before it continued his way to Taiwan.

But Hagibis/Lando was really an ugly guy. On the shores of Vietnam it first lost of strength, then returned into the South China Sea and headed straight east. Mindanao and Luzon were newly threatened. In the picture on the right side you can follow the traces of these two Tropical Depressions.

⁽¹⁾Excerpt from The Manila Times of November 27, 2007.

Typhoon “Mina” slammed through north-eastern Luzon Sunday evening leaving eight dead as two other weather disturbances continued to threaten the country.

Bouncing back Hagibis (left) and a new depression, Mitag (right)

Meanwhile, the “actual and potential losses” to the agriculture sector from typhoons Mina and “Lando” was placed at P109.7 million.

The latest storm fatalities from Typhoon Mina (international name Mitag) were reported in the Bicol region, latest reports from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo showed. (...)

The NDCC reports said that Lando, which ravaged the country last week and left 14 people dead, is expected to make landfall somewhere in north-western Palawan Tuesday night.

Weather officials said that Lando's return to the country was caused by the “Fujiwara effect,” where a weaker storm is pulled back by a much stronger storm. (...)

Traces of Hagibis and Mitag

On November 27 we had some business to do in Boracay. The terminal in Caticlan was closed because of heavy weather. But the secondary embarkation port on the other side of the peninsula was open.
The usually short and peaceful pump boat transfer from Caticlan to Boracay was a real rollercoaster.
Boracay's White Beach was as deserted as the Champs Elysées in Paris during August. On the seafront people raised protective panels made of wood or bamboo or plastic. The shops, bars and restaurants were equally sheltered.
During our meeting on a terrace - sheltered of course - the wind speed increased and our estimations were between 75 and 90 kph.

After the meeting, heading trough heavy rain, we gathered a tricycle back to the jetty and rode back to Caticlan. The roads in northern Panay were covered with broken palm leaves, wood of any kind and other debris. Partially the road was under water.

Please find some impressions on the right. Glide over the small thumbnails to have them enlarged.

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