Typhoon Names Causing Massive Damage Retired... Linfa, Molave, Bongpong, and Bamco Also Removed
Typhoon No. 15 Goni / Photo by KBS1 News Broadcast Screen Capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The typhoon 'Goni,' which caused massive damage in the Philippines last year, has been removed from the typhoon name list, and a Korean name to replace it is being solicited.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) announced on the 20th that it will hold a contest to collect easy-to-pronounce and memorable Korean typhoon names from the 21st until July 5th.
This contest was organized to replace Goni, which passed through the Philippines last year causing hundreds of casualties, among the 140 typhoon names used by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Typhoon Committee.
Natural phenomena like typhoons can occur simultaneously in the same region, so names are assigned to avoid confusion.
Until 1999, names designated by the United States were used, and since 2000, 140 names submitted by 14 member countries of the Typhoon Committee (10 names each) have been used in order. After all 140 names are used, the list restarts from number one.
Member countries of the Typhoon Committee can request the removal of names of typhoons that caused significant damage. This year, five names including Goni, Linfa, Molave, Bongpong, and Bavi are being deleted.
Typhoon name submissions can be made through the KMA website, and the KMA plans to submit three candidate names to the Typhoon Committee in case any are deemed inappropriate in meaning or pronunciation. One of these will be finally selected and used starting in 2022.
Park Kwang-seok, head of the KMA, said, "The typhoon name contest will raise awareness about typhoons and create a consensus that the names are made directly by the public." He added, "We will continue to expand communication with the public to ensure meteorological information is effectively delivered."
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