Typhoon Maysak finally made landfall in the Philippines, on Sunday, as a tropical depression. The storm which started as a super typhoon in the Pacific, weakened significantly and reached the northern coast of Philippines, with winds of around 55 Kmph at 8.00 am local time.
Maysak is expected to cross northern Philippines in the next 24 hours or so. It will then enter the South China Sea as a depression and later gain strength to become a storm again. But the system is not expected to sustain itself and will most likely weaken with time.
Fearing flash floods, storm surges, and landslides, some 18 provinces were put on a storm alert as authorities evacuated more than 25,000 from the region where Maysak was expected to make landfall. Even sea travel was put on hold in the region with numerous airports closed and several flights cancelled. Tourists visiting the country during the Easter holidays were pushed back from the beaches dreading storm surges.
Another tropical storm, named Hiashen, was tracked following Maysak in the Pacific. The tropical storm Hiashen, however, is not going to threaten the Philippines. Hiashen continues to brew in the Pacific and is not likely to gain strength to become a typhoon. It will weaken further and die out eventually.
(Main Image Credits: Samantha Cristoforetti)