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Severe Typhoon Vicente, which affected Hong Kong in July 2012, required the issuance of the Hurricane No. 10 Signal, the st tropical cyclone requiring the No. 10 Signal since Typhoon York in September 1999. Vicente intensid rapidly from a tropical storm to a severe typhoon about 30 hours prior to its closest approach to Hong Kong. Such rapid intensiation of tropical cyclones near the territory is rather rare. (Top)

Hurricane Sandy affected the East Coast of the United States in October 2012. Storm surges triggered by Sandy caused oding in the New York City subway system. Power plants were oded and on e, paralyzing the whole city and seriously affecting the lives of the city's inhabitants. The fact that the death toll exceeded 100 poignantly illustrates how storm surges continue to pose a serious threat to modern society. Moreover, global warming is predicted to increase the threat, suggesting that disaster prevention and mitigation measures against typhoons and storm surges should not be relaxed. (Middle and bottom)