Chanchu

Tropical storm Chanchu is said to have killed 37 people and left thousands homeless in the Philippines. The latest report at time of writing is that the storm was picking up strength in the South China Sea and that it could hit Hong Kong with typhoon force on 17 May. Tom Goreau says "for this to happen in mid May is just incredible". Xinhua reports that local meteorologists say it will probably be the strongest tropical storm ever to hit South China in May.

Supertyphoon.com has more information here (thanks to Norie Huddle for this).

(The contribution of human activity to storms such as Chanchu may get some future attention; but a shaggy goat story from Merapi, Java -- an unambiguously natural phenomenon -- is likely to get more attention in the media in the coming days)