CrisisMesh News data, documents, video.

A massive system named Super Typhoon Durian is beginning to pass over the Philippines. This has the potential to be very devastating to the regions it passes over. The typhoon is expected to pass over or in the vicinity of Manila, but the strength of the storm should be somewhat milder by the time it reaches (Manila being on the West of the island, with the typhoon coming from the East).

Kiwi storm chaser Geoff Mackley is Naga City, which is expected to be directly or nearly hit.

“CAT 5 Supertyphoon Durian heading towards landfall on or near Naga City this afternoon.. Weather is deterioating here, power and phones now failed.”

Resources:

• Typhoon2000.com
• JTWC Track Prediction
• Tropical Storm Warning Data
• Category 1 Probabilities to 24 hours lead
• Consolidated Track forecasts

From BBC:

India has successfully tested a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, according to defence officials. The Prithvi missile was launched from Chandipur in the eastern state of Orissa into the Bay of Bengal at 0955 local time (0425 GMT). It was part of an air defence exercise, and more trials are expected in the coming weeks, the defence sources said. The 8.5m (28-ft) surface-to-surface Prithvi missile covers 150 km (90 miles) in 300 seconds and has a range of up to 250 km. The test comes three days after a missile was tested by Pakistan.

An earthquake (USGS reports a 7.8) has today caused a small tsunami to reach Northern Japan. The quake originated 445Km East-North-East of the Kuril Islands at a depth of 27.7Km. The generated tsunami was estimated to be 40cm when it reached Northern Japan, but the status of the population of the Kuril Islands is yet to be made clear.

Minutes ago former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to death by hanging. NY Times.