Three new names, Bori, Saobien and Tianma, have been introduced to the list of tropical cyclone names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2025 to replace the old names of Doksuri, Saola and Haikui respectively.

     The new names were endorsed at the 57th session of the Typhoon Committee, which is under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the World Meteorological Organization.

     The meanings of the three new names and the contributing countries are as follows:

Name	Meaning	Contributing country
Bori	Barley	Republic of Korea
Saobien	An echinoderm invertebrate, typically star-shaped	Vietnam
Tianma	A flying horse in Chinese legend	China

     According to convention, the Typhoon Committee will consider retiring the name of a tropical cyclone which has caused serious casualties and economic losses. Super Typhoon Doksuri hit the Philippines in late July 2023, causing at least 25 deaths. Over 2.45 million people were affected and the economic loss exceeded PHP5.4 billion. During its passage in China, around 2.95 million people were affected and the economic loss exceeded RMB14.7 billion. Super Typhoon Saola brought torrential rain and squalls to the northern part of the Philippines in late August 2023, causing at least two deaths. More than 1.16 million people were affected and the economic loss exceeded PHP2.4 billion. Severe Typhoon Haikui hit China in early September 2023, affecting more than 1.59 million people and resulting in economic loss exceeding RMB5 billion.
 
     The updated list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings are available on the Hong Kong Observatory webpage for Tropical Cyclone Names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea with effect from 2025.

Ends/Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 10:00

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