2 Apr 2015

Giant storm viewed from space

10:42 am on 2 April 2015

From space its beauty is beguiling, hiding the terror being created below.

Cyclone Maysak seen from the International Space Station.

Cyclone Maysak seen from the International Space Station. Photo: ESA / NASA / Samantha Cristoforetti

European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti captured the above image of super typhoon Maysak from the International Space Station on Tuesday.

At its height, the typhoon caused havoc in the Federated States of Micronesia, with serious damage in Chuuk state where five people were believed to have been killed. The small atolls of Fais and Ulithi in Yap state were directly hit.

The wind gusts from the typhoon reached 300 kilometres an hour.

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