China has made a breakthrough in weather monitoring after conducting a multi-dimensional and detailed observation of typhoon Prapiroon in real time, the fourth typhoon this year, according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) on Sunday.
Prapiroon is expected to make landfall on south China's island province of Hainan on Sunday night, bringing strong winds and heavy rains to the island province and the Beibu Gulf.
On Sunday morning, the CMA and the Hong Kong Observatory achieved the first joint observation of ocean typhoons using drones and manned aircraft in key areas, accurately capturing the detailed structure of the outer cloud system of Prapiroon.
These observation data can help forecasters analyze information such as typhoon development trends, intensity changes, and structural characteristics. This will help improve the accuracy in mapping the typhoon path, intensity, wind and rain forecasts, according to the meteorological department. The Haiyan-1 drone took off from the national UAV meteorological observation test base at 2:45 on Sunday and flew into typhoon Prapiroon, returning to the base after a two-hour flight.
The drone captured over 4,200 pieces of effective data, transmitting them to various weather bureaus, local meteorological institutes and typhoon research centers.
During the mission, the meteorological monitoring drone accurately dropped eight sondes at the designated time and location, recording data such as temperature, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, and air pressure at different altitudes, allowing for a more detailed observation of the three-dimensional structure of Prapiroon.
At 10:00 on Sunday, the Hong Kong Observatory and the special administrative region's Government Flying Service dispatched manned aircrafts to drop sondes for observation.
Experts said when the typhoon center is far away, meteorological satellites provide typhoon cloud imaging and dynamic remote sensing observations. When the typhoon approaches, the weather radar, wind profiler radar, and coastal nearshore meteorological stations will provide relevant data.
Meanwhile, large high-altitude drones equipped with airborne drop sondes, cloud radars, temperature and humidity profilers and other remote sensing equipment, can obtain three-dimensional vertical structure information of the flight layer and the typhoon, forming a comprehensive typhoon monitoring network, together with meteorological satellites and weather radars, according to experts.
"We use large high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct observations of sensitive areas of tropical depressions in the South China Sea, providing refined observation data support for the evolution and development path forecast, and the intensity impact forecast of tropical depressions, thereby improving the accurate forecasting capabilities of typhoons," said Zhao Peitao, director of the base office of the Meteorological Observation Center under the CMA.
China makes breakthrough in exhaustive typhoon observation
Residents at a temporary shelter in South Korea are coming to terms with the shock of losing their homes in the worst wildfires in the country's history, with the deadly blazes which have been burning since late last month forcing tens of thousands of people to be evacuated.
The devastating fires -- which first erupted back on March 21 -- have claimed the lives of at least 30 people and injured dozens of others, while more than 3,500 houses and 30 national heritage sites have been damaged.
The flames have so far spread across more than 48,000 hectares of land, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
Shell-shocked local people have been sharing the horrifying stories of how they became overwhelmed by the fast-spreading flames and had to rush from their homes.
Jo Soo-gap, a resident of the Yeongdeok County in the severely affected North Gyeongsang Province, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) of the moment the flames approached.
"We didn't think it would come all the way to our area. That evening, while we were at home, the wind picked up. It felt stronger than a typhoon. I thought it was getting dangerous, so l was preparing to leave with my wife. Then suddenly a neighbor shouted, 'The fire's coming! Get out now!' So we just got in the car and drove toward Pohang,” he recalled.
"When we finally returned at dawn, we found our house had completely burned down and collapsed. Other homes, even if they were mostly destroyed, still had some parts of the frame left. But ours was a two-story villa-style home, and it had completely caved in – flattened right down to its foundation. There was nothing for us left to retrieve,” lamented Jo.
He expressed the hope that the government would help him and his family, as well as the many others affected, to rebuild their homes, while issuing a clear warning to others about the dangers posed by wildfires.
"We hope recovery efforts can proceed quickly, and that the government or local authorities can provide permanent housing so we can rebuild our lives. Fire prevention is no small matter, people should never carry any flammable objects when going into the mountains or fields. I want to emphasize this very clearly," he said.
Meanwhile, Kim Woo-seok, chairman of the Pohang Medical Association, explained how medics are handling the various problems brought by the wildfires, with a particular focus being placed on the welfare of those suffering from chronic diseases.
"The most pressing concern for us is people with chronic illnesses, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes who need to constantly take their medication. Some patients did not have time to grab their medicines during the evacuation, and the drug withdrawal can cause sudden spikes in their blood pressure or blood sugar levels. So it's crucial that we monitor and stabilize their conditions as quickly as possible,” he said.
Kim stressed that the psychological trauma brought by the wildfires is the most pressing issue, as people slowly come to terms with the significant losses they have suffered.
"However, the biggest emotional shock comes from losing one's home or seeing a loved one fall ill. Those situations can cause severe emotional trauma. People can develop symptoms like panic attacks or depression as a result. These issues require proper counseling and treatment, as the emotional stress can also cause physical symptoms, such as back pain or joint pain. Those are the common cases we see," he said.
Shell-shocked South Korean evacuees lament loss of homes in deadly wildfires
