NASA MODIS Image of the Day: April 7, 2012 – Typhoon Pakhar (02W) over Vietnam
NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Typhoon Pakhar at 0610 UTC (2:10 EDT) on April 1, 2012, allowing the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)to capture this true-color image of Typhoon Pakhar approaching landfall. The storm’s cloud-filled eye appears to be sitting just off of the coast east of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam while rain-bearing convective bands stretch over Vietnam, Cambodia, eastern Laos and Thailand, as well as over the South China Sea and Hainan, China in the far northeast. The storm made landfall only a few hours after this image was acquired, at 1200 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT). According to Vietnam News.com, as Typhoon Pakhar made landfall it affected seven provinces including Ho Chi Min City, with heavy rains and gusty winds. Two deaths and 10 injuries were reported. In the province of Dong Nai, Bien Hoa City reported more than 700 damaged homes. Flooded streets, damaged structures and downed trees were reported throughout the country. The fierce winds and soaking rain of Typhoon Pakhar were a stark contrast to the conditions in northern Laos, where dozens of fire blazed, filling the sky with a dingy gray haze. Fires are common in the dry season in this region, many set deliberately as an agricultural tool to prepare land for grazing or crops.
