• Matmo (also known as Paolo in the Philippines) is a tropical cyclone/typhoon in 2025. 
• It originated as a tropical depression on 1 October and moved west-northwest across the Philippines, then into the South China Sea, before making landfall in southern China.
• At peak landfall in Guangdong province, China, Matmo’s sustained winds were recorded at around 151 km/h (≈94 mph) (a strong typhoon). 

• Matmo is expected to dump heavy rainfall, triggering flooding, landslides, and disruptions to transport, utilities, and urban life especially in southern China and possibly parts of Vietnam as it moves inland.
• China had issued typhoon warnings (orange/red alerts) in affected provinces.
• The name “Matmo” was contributed by Laos, one of the 14 member countries of the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Typhoon Committee, which monitors and names tropical cyclones forming in the Western North Pacific and the South China Sea.

• The Typhoon Committee includes countries such as China, Japan, Laos, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, South Korea, and others.
• Each member provides a list of names that reflect local culture, nature, or history.
• These names are used sequentially when new tropical cyclones form in the region.
• “Matmo” (pronounced MAT-mo) is a Laotian word meaning “a kind of fish.”
  

MCQs

Q1. With reference to Typhoon Matmo (2025), consider the following statements:

1. Matmo made landfall in southern China with sustained winds of about 151 km/h.
2. Over 300,000 people were evacuated in anticipation of the storm in Chinese provinces.
3. The storm is confined to the Philippines and is not projected to affect mainland Asia.
   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

SOURCE