Typhoon Melor or locally known as Typhoon Nona was the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane as it moved into the Philippines on Monday.
At least 3 people were killed, one person died of hypothermia while two others drowned in floods as the typhoon carved through the central Philippines on Tuesday bringing heavy rain and strong winds that left millions without electricity in at least seven provinces.
Channel News Asia reported that Typhoon Melor whipped the vast Bicol peninsula, with a population of 5.4 million people, overnight before slamming into the Romblon islands on Tuesday morning.
Bad weather forced the cancellation of 16 domestic flights on Tuesday, adding to the 56 flights cancelled on Monday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
Tin roofs and branches littered the streets of the city of Legazpi, which was battered by strong winds.
Gusts had weakened somewhat by Tuesday morning but were still recorded at 170 kilometres (106 miles) per hour from 185 kilometres per hour on Monday.
Rainfall amounts could top 300 mm (12 inches) in the central Philippines, especially across the higher terrain could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
This December 14, 20115 NASA satellite image shows Typhoon Melor over the Philippines. More than 700,000 people in the central Philippines fled to safer areas for fear of giant waves, floods or landslides as Typhoon Melor slammed into the archipelago nation December 14, officials said. Melor brushed the northern tip of Samar, a farming island of 1.5 million people, early December 14 with winds gusting up to 185 kilometres (115 miles) per hour, the state weather bureau said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. AFP PHOTO / HANDOUT / NASA == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / MANDATORY CREDIT: “AFP PHOTO / HANDOUT / NASA”/ NO MARKETING / NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS / DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS == / AFP / NASA / –
(NST) – KUALA LUMPUR: The Sulu forces in southern Philippines are planning a ‘revenge attack’ following the 2013 deadly stand-off in Lahad Datu and reclaim Sabah, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said. This was gathered from intelligence by the enforcement agencies, Nur Jazlan said. He told the New Straits Times that the ministry was monitoring and working to neutralise the local network of sympathisers. “We have been doing continuous and intensive monitoring. There are indications that the group is planning a revenge attack. “We want to neutralise their network of sympathisers to prevent any such attack.” Nur Jazlan said many sympathisers had been assimilated into the communities, making it harder for the enforcers to identify them. “They are normal people, usually locals or non-Malaysians, with ties to the communities in southern Philippines. So, there are many of them. “They have interwoven with the communities in eastern Sabah, which makes it more difficult to identify them.” Immigration Department deputy director-general Datuk Sakib Kusmi said the movement of people with Sulu links was being monitored by enforcement agencies, including the Eastern Sabah Security Command. Sabah state assembly on Thursday passed a proposal to ban foreigners associated with the self-proclaimed Sulu sultanate from entering the country. Legal action was also proposed against PKR lawmakers Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tian Chua following their meeting with Jacel Kiram, daughter of the late Jamalul Kiram III, who ordered the 2013 intrusion.
Above is another arrogant and silly statement made by the PKR’s Batu Member of Parliament. Reading the news made me feel so humiliated and hurt because a politic leader of my country assumes that we Malaysian are unable to think straight and can be fooled by such illogical excuses over such a serious misconduct. And I cannot imagine the feelings of the families and friends of the victims of the Lahad Datu tragedy over the statement.
The Malaysian Parliament must conduct a course so that such Members of Parliament can learn the Rukun Negara and the meaning behind it so that they be patriotic and take their duties to the country seriously; and not putting their own selves above the sovereignty of our country.
The Star article is in red while my comments will be in blue.
PETALING JAYA: Batu MP Tian Chuahas said that both he and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar regret the uneasiness caused by the pictures taken with Jacel Kiram during their trip to the Philippines but he maintains that they were unaware that they were taking the pictures with the self-styled Sulu princess.
Does Tian Chua mean that both he and Nurul Izzah did not know the participants of that small meeting and thought that Jacel is just another citizen of the Philippines?
They were only a very small number of people at the meeting. They would surely introduced themselves or be introduced by the organiser or the person who chaired the meeting. It is impossible for Nurul Izzah to not know that the lady in blue is Jacel Kiram, the daughter of the the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu except if she has such a short memory and cannot remember anything at all after a few minutes.
Or does Tian Chua meant to say that “they were unaware that they were taking the pictures with the self-styled Sulu princess” because when Jacel was enjoying the meal and chatting with Nurul Izzah as in the photo below, she was in disguise and was using another name?
Nurul Izzah (3rd from left) was talking to a man and a mysterious lady in blue (left) at the dinning table.
Chua said that both he and Nurul were simply acting in accordance with the common practice of taking pictures with all parties when attending international conferences and that they did not realise who they were taking the photograph with.
From the photos published, that so-called “international conference” was not attended by hundreds of people that the participants do not know each other. Jacel Kiram is not unknown in Malaysia, and if Tian Chua and Nurul Izzah did not recognise Jacel Kiram or did not know her connections to the Lahad Datu tragedy; then they are not fit to be our Members of Parliament.
The so-called “international conference”. What an odd meeting when Nurul Izzah (left) was not introduced to the other people at the meeting table.
In fact, the news of former opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim being followed by the so called ‘Princess’ Jacel Kiram on Twitter went viral on the internet during the Lahad Datu tragedy in February 2013. It is a wonder that Tian Chua and Nurul Izzah who are very active on the internet did not recognise the popular daughter of the self proclaimed Sultan of Sulu even if she was introduced to her by another name at the meeting.
A once popular screenshot from Jacel Kiram’s twitter page.
The MP also claimed that the issue of sovereignty was being politicised and that political parties should instead be united with regards to the issue of protecting the nations territorial integrity.
The issue of sovereignty was not politicised. Nurul Izzah is a Member of Parliament and like Jacel Kiram, she is not an unknown person. This issue is being raised because Nurul Izzah Anwar Ibrahim had a meeting with an enemy of Malaysia and later on took pictures with her, smiling as if Jacel is her best friend while holding placards calling for the release of a Malaysian prisoner, Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar Ibrahim’s supporters. Nurul Izzah (left) had no idea of who was the lady in blue.
Now, isn’t the whole actions by them is a humiliation to our country and the victims of the Lahad Datu tragedy? The actions show disloyalty to the King and the country for using an enemy of the State to pressure the State to release a prisoner that was found guilty by the Federal Court.
“We regret that this has cause uneasiness among the people and Nurul Izzah has already apologised to the families of the victims, so why are we playing up his issue?” asked Chua.
Is this the mentality of the opposition leaders? If any of them did something wrong, no matter how serious it is and in this case a humiliation to our country, and he apologises, then things are considered solved and nobody should question and talk about it anymore.
The sovereignty of a country must be upheld by each and every citizen of the country, especially the leaders. Both Tian Chua and Nurul Izzah are not patriotic and it is a pity that they were elected as leaders by their voters.
He added that he had no problem with the police investigating him, and that they should go ahead if they wanted to.
Chua also said that “more concrete action” was needed to guarantee Sabah’s safety from “invaders” and despite being debated many times, there is a lack of defensive improvements seen in Sabah.
Looking for ways to divert the story? After his above statement and what he did before, he has no rights to belittle the work done by the government, PDRM and ATM in order to protect our country. It was the ATM that defeated the ‘Royal Sulu Army’ which was led by the uncle of Jacel Kiram, the lady in blue who participated in the ‘international conference’ together with Tian Chua and Nurul Izzah but whom they had no idea who was she.
The popular Jakel Kiram must be very sad that if she knows that Nurul Izzah has no idea of who she is even after the meeting, sharing the meal and took lots of photos together.
And by placing inverted commas for the word invaders in the article, does The Star meant to imply that the ‘Royal Sulu Army’ are not invaders and that the attack on Lahad Datu that killed 10 victims from PDRM and ATM who were defending Sabah was just a fairy tale like claimed by Tian Chua in the video below?
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had stated that Chua had been the person who arranged the meeting and that he was also responsible for contacting the Sulu sultanate.
Jacel is the daughter of self-styled Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III who ordered 200 members of his “Royal Sulu Army” to invade Lahad Datu in February 2013 to stake his claim over Sabah.
After international statements over international statements about our country made by Jacel Kiram with her photos all over the medias, it is so weird that the two Malaysian Members of Parliament who are internet savvy and actively complaining about the government, are still at lost of who she is. The Star reported, Tian Chua said “they were unaware that they were taking the pictures with the self-styled Sulu princess.”
Typhoon Hagupit is suspected to hit Philippines this Saturday, and will affect about 30 million residents.
The Typhoon which is also known as Ruby in the Philippines intensity was equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific Ocean.
It is on course for the Eastern Samar province and the city of Tacloban which was badly hit by last year’s Typhoon Haiyan, is one of the places which might be hit by this coming typhoon .
Even though Typhoon Hagupit is not as powerful as Haiyan it is still very dangerous as it will cause heavy rain, storm surges and landslides.
In fact BBC News reported that Typhoon Hagupit could bring storm surges up to one storey-high.
Strong winds from Typhoon Glenda (Rammasun) uprooted a decades-old tree which fell on a red car.
Typhoon Rammasun is the first major typhoon of the season that hit the Philippines.
Locally as “Glenda”, the category 3 hurricane made landfall near Legazpi City on Tuesday evening.
At least 13 people were killed across the country.
Ferocious wind gusts approaching 200 kilometres (120 miles) an hour, tore roofs off houses, overturned cars and ripped down electricity lines in Manila, as well as remote fishing villages hundreds of kilometres away.
People walk among debris and a boat destroyed by strong winds brought by Typhoon Rammasun in Manila
Millions were without electricity.
Please click the photos for larger images:
Motorists pick their way past fallen trees along a highway as Typhoon Rammasun exacts a toll on Manila.
A resident stands near waves in Legazpi City, southeast of Manila, on July 15, 2014 as authorities warned of approaching Typhoon Rammasun. Thousands of people fled their homes and ships sheltered from heavy seas in the Philippines on July 15, as the first major storm of the rainy season strengthened into a typhoon. AFP PHOTO/Charism SayatCharism SAYAT/AFP/Getty Images
A fisherman’s house in the middle of a fish pen leans to one side as it is pounded by waves, strong winds and rain brought by Typhoon Rammasun (known locally as Glenda) in the coastal town of Bacoor, Cavite, southwest of Manila, July 16, 2014. (REUTERS/Erik De Castro)
Vehicle traverse a road littered by debris from fallen trees brought by strong winds as Typhoon Rammasun (locally named Glenda) hit Paranaque, Metro Manila, July 16, 2014. (REUTERS/Erik De Castro)
Residents wade along flooded roads as Typhoon Rammasun batters suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. Typhoon Rammasun knocked out power in many areas but it spared the Philippine capital, Manila, and densely-populated northern provinces from being directly battered Wednesday when its fierce wind shifted slightly away, officials said. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Residents wade through floods as they go back to their home while Typhoon Rammasun batters suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. Typhoon Rammasun knocked out power in many areas but it spared the Philippine capital, Manila, and densely-populated northern provinces from being directly battered Wednesday when its fierce wind shifted slightly away, officials said. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Typhoon Rammasun, also known as Typhoon “Glenda,” is set to strike the Bicol region in the east of the country at 6:00pm (1000 GMT), with Manila and other heavily populated areas also expected to be hit early Wednesday, the state weather service said.
It will bring very strong wind with center winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts of 150 kilometers an hour.
The strong wind is expected to topple trees and electric poles, and may even rip roofs off poorly constructed houses.
The typhoon had a diameter of 500 kilometers and will cause a large amount of rain that could cause flash flooding and landslides.
People living in coastal areas in the Provinces of Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Northern Samar that is threatened by storm surges were ordered to evacuate their homes.
Schools in several cities were closed and about 50 domestic flights and four international flights have been cancelled, along with ferry services.
Residents walked passed damaged houses in Tacloban City, after it was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan that slammed into Tacloban City, Leyte province Philippines as seen on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Phoro/Bullit Marquez.
At least 10,000 people are believed dead in Tacloban city alone after one of the worst storms ever recorded hit the Philippines with ferocious winds and giant waves.
Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) appears to be the deadliest natural disaster on record, packing winds of 235 kilometers per hour (147 miles per hour) that gusted to 275 kph (170 mph), and a storm surge that caused sea waters to rise 6 meters (20 feet).
Corpses hung from tree branches and were scattered along sidewalks and among flattened buildings.
Death toll could climb even higher when emergency crews reach areas cut off by flooding and landslides.
Please click the photos for larger images:
The airport devastated by Typhoon Haiyan that slammed into Tacloban City, Leyte province Philippines as seen on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Phoro/Aaron Favila.
Tacloban City, devastated by Typhoon Haiyan that slammed into Tacloban City, Leyte province Philippines as seen on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Phoro/Aaron Favila.
Damaged houses in Tacloban City, after it was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan that slammed into Tacloban City, Leyte province Philippines as seen on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Phoro/Romeo Ranoco.
Damaged houses in Tacloban City, after it was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan that slammed into Tacloban City, Leyte province Philippines as seen on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Phoro/Bullit Marquez.
Tacloban City, devastated by Typhoon Haiyan that slammed into Tacloban City, Leyte province Philippines as seen on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Phoro/Bullit Marquez.
Tacloban City, devastated by Typhoon Haiyan that slammed into Tacloban City, Leyte province Philippines as seen on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Phoro/Bullit Marquez.
Residents try to salvage belongings in Tacloban City, after it was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan that slammed into Tacloban City, Leyte province Philippines as seen on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Phoro/Bullit Marquez.
Residents walked passed damaged houses in Tacloban City, after it was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan that slammed into Tacloban City, Leyte province Philippines as seen on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Phoro/Bullit Marquez.
Below is the video of ABS-CBN News’s reporter Atom Araullo reported live at around 6:40 a.m. Friday from a street in Tacloban City during Typhoon Haiyan, which is also called Yolanda in the Philippines.
The video was aired on the ABS-CBN’s morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda” as well as on ABS-CBN’s flagship newscast “TV Patrol.”
The video showed a bad flash flood caused by storm surge brought by Typhoon Haiyan on the street where Atom Araullo had been reporting from just an hour before.
It shows the flooded street turned into a river full of debris.
Below is another ABS-CBN News’s video during Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban City:
Please click the links below for news, photos and videos of Typhoon Haiyan:
In this Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 file photo a silverback mountain gorilla is seen in the Virunga National Park, near the Ugandan border in eastern Congo, The 175-nation U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, known as CITES, is based in Geneva and regulates nearly 35,000 species of animals and plants. Experts rank wildlife smuggling among the top aims of criminal networks, along with drugs and human trafficking. CITES says wildlife crime remains poorly studied but it says international estimates of the scale of illegal wildlife trade range from between $16 billion and $27 billion a year. Tiger parts, elephant ivory, rhino horn and exotic birds and reptiles are among the most trafficked items. (AP Photo / Jerome Delay, File)
Snow Leopard – There are up to 6,000 snow leopards in the wild across 12 countries, but its numbers are gradually declining, with hunting and habitat loss just some of the reasons that it is endangered. Naturepl.com/ Andy Rouse / WWF-Canon
In this Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012 file photo released by Virunga National Park, a baby Grauer’s gorilla that had been poached from Kahuzi-Biega National Park is seen at the Senkwekwe Orphan Gorilla Center at Virunga National Park in eastern Congo. Twenty-five species of monkeys, langurs, lemurs and gorillas are on the brink of extinction and need global action to protect them from increasing deforestation and illegal trafficking, researchers said Monday, Oct. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Virunga National Park, LuAnne Cadd, File)
We must try to save the endangered animals before they extinct.
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