PAGASA to decommission 4 cyclone names this year
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it is decommissioning four tropical cyclone names this year.
PAGASA decommissions or removes names from list of tropical cyclones when they are particularly destructive, specifically if it caused more than P1 billion worth of damage or claimed at least 300 lives.
This year, the following names of tropical cyclones that will be removed due to their corresponding accumulated amount of damage caused to the country are:
- ‘Ambo’ (International Name Vongfong) – P1.57 billion
- ‘Quinta’ (International Name Molave) – P4.22 billion
- ‘Rolly’ (International Name Goni) – P17.6 billion
- ‘Ulysses’ (International Name Vamco) – P18.62 billion
Overall, the four cyclones caused a total of P42.09 billion worth of damage to the country’s infrastructure and agriculture according to government records.
After decommissioning, PAGASA will replace the names with new ones to prevent psychological relapse or to prevent the victims from recalling the traumatic experiences the strong cyclones caused to them. MNP (with inputs from Rey Pelayo)