Typhoon Consom disruptions continues

On 14 July 2010 Typhoon Conson caused power cuts, disrupted transportation, and left at least 20 people dead. Authorities stated that the final death toll will likely be much higher. The typhoon struck northwest Quezon province with winds of 75 mph/65 kt and weakened into a tropical storm as it moved over Luzon Island. Hundreds of power lines are down, and the storm left huge swaths of Luzon Island without power, including most of Metro Manila. Officials have warned that it may take up to four days to restore power to certain areas of Manila. More than 3,000 people were stranded in the city's ports waiting for flood waters to recede and the weather to clear. Authorities at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (RPLL/MNL) stated that a total of 63 flights have been canceled and nine have been diverted to the other airports since 12 July. Flights remain backlogged as aviation officials struggle to make up for earlier cancellations. The storm is now centered approximately 185 mi/295 km west-northwest of Manila in the South China Sea and, according to meteorologists at Wilkens Weather Technologies, is forecast to make landfall on the Chinese mainland just north of Hainan within the next 48-72 hours. Maximum sustained wind speeds are currently at approximately 57 mph/50 kt with higher gusts; the storm is expected to weaken before making landfall.