Typhoon Megi churns in South China Sea
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MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Typhoon Megi, which left death and devastation in its wake in the Philippines, was bearing down on mainland China and Hong Kong, meteorologists said.
The Hong Kong Observatory said Megi -- which slammed the northern Philippines and left at least 11 dead, may intensify once again to a super typhoon, but couldn't determine whether it will affect Hong Kong or when a storm signal would be issued, Radio Television Hong Kong reported Tuesday. The storm is forecast to head toward Guangdong province on China's coast in the next few days.
About 140,000 people have already been evacuated from 15 cities on Hainan Island since heavy rains began falling on the Chinese province last week, officials said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday Megi could return to the Philippines because two weather systems were preventing the typhoon from moving on its projected northwesterly track, the Philippine Daily Inquirer said.
The storm has become "quasi-stationary," Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said.
"Is there a possibility that this typhoon would come back? There's always this kind of possibility and this is the reason why every hour on the hour we are watching the typhoon," Yumul said.
Most areas of Isabela province, which absorbed most of Megi's force, lay in ruins, officials said.
Office of Civil Defense Director Benito Ramos said nearly all houses and infrastructure were damaged in nearly every town in the province, ABS-CBN news reported. Power and communications were zapped, affecting local government officials' ability to assess damage.
Officials said 100 percent of crops reportedly were ruined.
"Everyone's waiting for developments from the local government. Everyone's waiting for help," one witness reported to ABS-CBN.
Megi had sustained winds of 167 mph when it devastated the northern Philippines, making it the most power storm since Hurricane Wilma in 2005, CNN said.
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