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A new name, "Ampil", has been adopted for tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2014, replacing "Bopha".
Ampil, the name of a kind of tropical fruit, more commonly known as tamarind, was proposed by Cambodia. The new name was endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)/World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Typhoon Committee at its 46th session in Bangkok in February 2014.
With effect from 2000, the Hong Kong Observatory adopted a new list of tropical cyclone names as agreed by the Typhoon Committee. The list consists of a total of 140 names contributed by 14 countries and territories. Apart from being used in forecasts and warnings issued to the public and the international aviation and shipping communities, the names will also be used officially in information on tropical cyclones issued to the international media.
According to the convention of the Typhoon Committee, a country or region which has suffered serious human casualties and economic losses from a tropical cyclone may propose to remove its name from the name list. In December 2012, Super Typhoon Bopha crossed the southern Philippines, triggering flooding and landslides. At least 1 100 people were killed and more than 800 people are missing.
The public, aviation and shipping sectors and the media are requested to take note of the updated tropical cyclone name and to take appropriate action. The updated list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings is available at the Hong Kong Observatory website at www.weather.gov.hk/informtc/sound/tcname2014e.htm.
Ends/Thursday, May 15, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:35
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