Storms such as Yagi, Helene, Krathon or most recently Tra Mi have passed through and destroyed many cities, leaving behind a lot of damage.
Superstorms ravage continents
Super typhoons are known for their tremendous power, not only bringing heavy rainfall but also causing flooding and landslides in mountainous areas. In coastal areas, typhoons are often accompanied by large waves, threatening coastal communities.
In September 2024, super typhoon Yagi hit the Philippines, China and made landfall in northern Vietnam, causing heavy damage. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the rain from typhoon Yagi was the heaviest in decades, causing many provinces and cities to be submerged in water, with damage amounting to tens of thousands of billions of VND.
The disaster left 334 people dead or missing and nearly 2,000 injured. Typhoon Yagi not only caused damage in Vietnam but also devastated the Philippines, China, Thailand and Myanmar. In Myanmar, at least 226 people died due to flooding and landslides. In total, Typhoon Yagi claimed the lives of more than 500 people in Southeast Asia.
In addition to Yagi, Hurricane Boris also had a major impact in Central Europe, leading to the worst flooding in more than 20 years, killing at least 26 people. In late September, Hurricane Helene hit the US, causing more than $110 billion in damage and killing 162 people. At the same time, heavy rains in Nepal also killed 192 people due to landslides and flash floods.
A distinctive feature of recent super typhoons is their unusual trajectory. For example, Typhoon Yagi rapidly intensified over 24 hours and remained so for a long time. The storm did not weaken as it passed Hainan Island, continuing to sweep across Vietnam with great force, causing heavy rain and flooding in many northern provinces of Vietnam.
Along with Yagi, other super typhoons such as Beryl, Helene and Boris also demonstrated unpredictable characteristics and unprecedented destructive power, emphasizing the importance of improving disaster forecasting and response capabilities in the current context of climate change.
The Cause Behind Super Typhoons
Tropical storms are formed by hot, humid air, especially in tropical waters near the equator, where the water reaches a temperature of at least 27°C. The high temperatures cause water to evaporate rapidly, creating a mass of moist air that moves upward, carrying energy from the ocean surface into the atmosphere and leaving behind a low-pressure area. Surrounding air is sucked in, creating vortices. As the heat and moisture remain abundant, the storm can become stronger and become a tropical storm. However, as the storm moves inland or into colder waters, the energy from the ocean decreases, causing it to weaken and dissipate.
Climate change is already contributing to the increased frequency and severity of super typhoons. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that the number of tropical storms may not increase, but their intensity will increase. According to meteorologists, global warming has gradually warmed the oceans, providing the energy for storms to develop into super typhoons.
In fact, from April 2023 to June 2024, the average surface temperature of the oceans reached a record high. The oceans, especially in Asia, absorb more than 90% of the excess heat from global warming, making extreme weather events such as super typhoons more common. Sea surface temperatures in Asia in 2023 were the second highest on record and continued to rise, especially in the northwestern Arabian Sea, the Philippine Sea, and the Sea of Japan.
Numerous studies have shown that climate change not only increases extreme weather events but also increases the likelihood of super typhoons. Statistics show that the likelihood of super typhoons in the Northwest Pacific, especially in places like Typhoon Yagi, has increased by 5-10 times compared to before.
Major storms like Gaemi in the northwest Pacific have also increased by 30% since 1900. Dr Ben Clarke of Imperial College London stressed that warming caused by fossil fuel emissions has ushered in a new era of larger and more dangerous storms. Asia is becoming a more dangerous region as the climate warms, until renewable energy sources completely replace fossil fuels.
