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Hana Davis

The names of four typhoons that killed dozens and wrought vast economic losses in the region in 2015 have been changed for future storms to avoid confusion, the Hong Kong Observatory announced on Wednesday.
Observatory scientific officer Choy Chun-wing said the replacement names were proposed by the countries which put forward the original names. They are Micronesia, Japan, North Korea and Malaysia.
Heavy rain pounds Hong Kong in aftermath of Merbok
“The new names of these storms, which caused human casualties and economic loss, were proposed in the annual meeting in 2016,” Choy said.
Another year was then needed to finalise the names, which were endorsed by the relevant United Nations committee in Yokohama in Japan in February, he added.
Choy said the Hong Kong and Macau meteorological authorities then needed time to finalise the Chinese translations.
He said the renaming of the storms helped preserve and respect the memory of the previous disasters and ensure there was no confusion when referencing future tropical cyclones.
“It is not a change of the past name,” Choy said. “It is about renaming the storms for the future.”

The four killer storms included severe typhoon Soudelor, which left at least 27 people dead and nine others missing in Taiwan and southeastern provinces in mainland China in August 2015. A total of 3.4 million mainland people were affected.
Soudelor, a legendary Micronesian chief, was renamed Saudel, the chief’s trusted guard and soldier.
Another was severe typhoon Mujigae, which affected 4.6 million people in Guangdong and Guangxi and caused economic losses of over 12 billion yuan (HK$13.8 billion). It spawned tornadoes in Foshan and Panyu near Guangzhou, killing at least six people and injuring more than 200 others.
North Korea renamed Mujigae, which means rainbow, Surigae – a type of eagle.
Nearly 400 Hong Kong flights disrupted by Tropical Storm Merbok
The remaining two killer storms were super typhoon Koppu and severe typhoon Melor, which hit the Philippines in October and December 2015. At least 27 people were killed and one million evacuated.
Japan proposed Koguma, the Japanese word for the constellation Ursa Minor, to replace Koppu, which means cup.
Malaysia replaced Melor, the jasmine flower traditionally used by Malaysian women to decorate their hair, with Cempaka, a plant known for its fragrant flowers.
Choy said there were roughly 120 names in the data base proposed by 14 countries and regions. Each name is used every five to six years, unless serious human or economic loss occurs.
The Hong Kong Observatory has contributed 10 names – Kai-tak, Shanshan, Man-yi, Lingling, Fung-wong, Dolphin, Choi-wan, Lionrock, Ma-on and Banyan.
One of the strongest storms to hit Hong Kong after 1997 was York, which battered the city in 1999. Two people died including a windsurfer and more than 500 were injured.


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Hong Kong weather

Four typhoon names get rebranded, Hong Kong Observatory announces

The names of the four typhoons were changed after they caused particular devastation. Photo: Reuters

This general view shows the skyline as rain clouds from Tropical Storm Merbock approach Hong Kong on June 12, 2017. The local signal "T8" was hoisted as rain caused traffic chaos, flight delays and suspended schools on June 12 as the first main storm of the year approached the southern Chinese city. / AFP PHOTO / ANTHONY WALLACE

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Hong Kong

Health & Environment

The move is made to preserve and respect the memory of previous disasters and ensure no confusion when referencing future tropical cyclones


Typhoon Merbok