Typhoon Wipha (2007)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Wipha was the strongest typhoon to threaten the Chinese coastline since Typhoon Saomai
in August 2006. Forming out of a tropical disturbance on September 15, it quickly developed into a tropical storm, and intensified into a typhoon the following day with the appearance of an eye feature
. After a period of rapid intensification
, Wipha attained its peak intensity on September 18, with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and a barometric pressure of 925 mbar (hPa), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency
. Later that day, the storm began to weaken as it interacted with the mountainous terrain of Taiwan
before brushing the northern edge of the island. Wipha subsequently made landfall
near Fuding
along the Fujian
-Zhejiang
provincial border with winds estimated at 185 km/h (115 mph) by the JTWC. Shortly thereafter, the typhoon weakened as it moved inland, weakening to a tropical storm within 18 hours of moving over land.
Nearly 2 million residents along the Chinese coastline evacuated ahead of Typhoon Wipha's arrival. Nearly 20,000 Chinese soldiers were deployed to the area to assist residents in reinforcing flood barriers and speeding up evacuations. The typhoon triggered severe flooding with rainfall in excess of 353 mm (13.9 in). Roughly 13,000 homes were destroyed, 57,000 more were damaged and 100,000 hectares of farmland was inundated. Throughout China, 14 people were killed and damage amounted to ¥7.45 billion ($1 billion USD).
Although the center of the storm did not pass near the Philippines
, its outer rainbands brought severe flooding to Negros Occidental
. Two people died and three others were listed as missing. Damage amounted to PHP 15.3 million ($314,000 USD). In Taiwan, high winds killed one person and injured another. Up to 495 mm (19.5 in) of precipitation caused landslides and flooding across the island. Agricultural losses in Taiwan amounted to NT$7.8 million (US$236,300). In Okinawa, high winds and rainfall up to 335 mm (13.2 in) caused significant damage and resulted in two fatalities. Seven homes across the islands were destroyed and damage totaled ¥28.3 billion ($285 million USD).
(JTWC) on September 13, 2007 roughly 1435 km (891.7 mi) east of Guam
. Deep convection
had developed around an area of low pressure
that formed within the disturbance. Low wind shear
allowed the system to steadily develop as it moved northward. Late on September 14, convective banding features
had formed around the center of circulation, prompting the JTWC to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
. Several hours later, the Japan Meteorological Agency
(JMA) began monitoring the system as a tropical depression. At the same time, the JTWC declared that the disturbance had become Tropical Depression 13W. Shortly thereafter, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) also began issuing advisories on the developing depression, assigning it the local name Goring. Initially, a Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough
situated to the north of the depression suppressed convective development and outflow
. However, late on September 15, this system weakened, leading to both the JTWC and JMA upgrading the depression to a tropical storm early on September 16. Upon being declared a tropical storm, the JMA assigned the name Wipha to the storm.
Throughout September 16, Wipha underwent a brief period of rapid intensification
, with the JTWC upgrading it to a Category 1 hurricane, on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, within 12 hours. The intensifying system maintained a northwesterly track in response to a subtropical
ridge
over the northwest Pacific. Early on September 17, Wipha was upgraded to a typhoon as 10-minute sustained winds reached 120 km/h (75 mph). A second round of rapid intensification took place through most of the day, leading to the typhoon attaining its peak intensity late on September 17 with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph 10-minute sustained) and a barometric pressure of 925 mbar
(hPa
; 27.31 inHg). At the same time, the JTWC assessed Wipha to have nearly attained Category 5 status, peaking as a high-end Category 4 super typhoon with winds of 250 km/h (155 mph 1-minute sustained). Upon reaching this intensity, Wipha became the second strongest storm of the 2007 Pacific typhoon season
.
Not long after reaching its peak intensity, Wipha began to weaken as it started to interact with the high terrain of Taiwan
. Early on September 18, PAGASA issued their final advisory on Typhoon Goring as it left their area of responsibility. Later that day, the center of the typhoon passed roughly 130 km/h (80 mi) north of Taipei, Taiwan. Continued weakening took place as the storm neared landfall
in Mainland China
. Around 1800 UTC
, the eye of Wipha crossed the Chinese coastline near Wenzhou
with sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph 10-minute sustained). The JTWC assessed Wipha to have made landfall as a low-end Category 3 typhoon with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph 1-minute sustained). Rapid weakening took place as the storm moved further inland. The JTWC issued their final advisory on Wipha during the afternoon of September 19 as they classified the system as an extratropical cyclone
. However, the JMA continued to monitor the system as a tropical depression until September 20. At this time, the remnants of Wipha had entered the Yellow Sea
and accelerated northeastward towards the Korean Peninsula
. The extratropical remnants of Wipha persisted for several more hours before dissipating off the coast of North Korea
that afternoon.
was shut down due to the threat of Typhoon Wipha. All businesses, including the stock exchange, were closed for September 18. Typhoon warnings were issued in northern areas of the island and residents were warned about the possibility of landslides in the mountainous regions. Accordingly, 169 people left landslide-prone areas. An additional 237 people were evacuated from the northern areas of Taiwan due to the storm. A code red alert was issued for the areas closest to the center of the cyclone. Nearly 4,300 Chinese fishermen sought refuge in Taiwan after being called back to port.
, one of the largest evacuations in the country's history took place. Local media warned that Wipha "may be the most destructive typhoon in a decade." More than 2 million people evacuated from coastal areas, 1.79 million of whom were in Zhejiang Province, the largest relocation of residents in the history of Zhejiang. Following the issuance of a Super Typhoon Warning, Shanghai officials evacuated 291,000 people from old buildings, temporary construction sites, and those who live near the coast. About 20,000 soldiers were sent to assist in the evacuation and reinforce flood barriers. A parade which was scheduled to take place in Shanghai was cancelled due to the warnings. About 365 workers were evacuated from the Pinghu oil rig located in the East China Sea
. Zoos caged animals and increased staff numbers to prevent escape and contain any fires which may be sparked by downed power lines. More than 39,000 people were evacuated from Jiangsu Province, mainly along the coast. Numerous cities cancelled schools and closed business for the day of and following the typhoon. The typhoon also caused FIFA
to reschedule four matches in the Women's World Cup. Nearly 40,000 vessels were recalled to port throughout China. About 250,000 people were also evacuated from Fujian Province with an additional 1.41 million text messages were also sent out to residents in the province. The China Meteorological Administration
(CMA) commenced "level one" emergency plan, the highest state of emergency. The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief commenced a "level two" flood control emergency plan and sent four teams to the provinces which were anticipated to be impacted by Wipha. Abut 50,000 factories in Zhejiang were shut down until Wipha passed. The large-scale evacuations resulted in a lower loss of life from the typhoon.
just a few days prior to Wipha, South Korea began evacuating residents as the remnants of the typhoon were expected to hit the country. Rainfall was expected to impact South Korea for several days with accumulations exceeding 150 mm (6 in). About 940 people were evacuated to shelters throughout the country.
. The flooding washed out large areas of agricultural land worth PHP
10.3 million ($211,000 USD). Numerous farm to market roads were also damaged or destroyed, costing PHP 5 million ($103,000 USD). The floods also destroyed 13 homes and damaged 31 others. A rare tornado spawned by the storm destroyed four homes and damaged 19 others. A total of 7,640 families were affected by Wipha in the Philippines. The heavy rains caused a landslide which killed one person on September 16. Another man drowned in a flood swollen river on September 21. Three other people were listed as missing after being swept away in a river swollen by Wipha.
).
. The highest winds were recorded on Ohara, Okinawa at 140 km/h (87 mph). Typhoon Wipha killed two people, one of which died during the evacuation from an illness, injured six others, and left another missing throughout the country. A total of seven homes were destroyed, four were damaged, and 39 others were affected. About 3,931 hectares of farmland, 7 km (4.3 mi) of roads, and three ports, along with ten ships, were damaged or destroyed. At the height of the storm, about 10,800 residences were without power. Damages from the storm amounted to ¥28.3 billion ($285 million USD
).
and San Enrique
declared a state of calamity to allow funds to reach flood victims. By September 26, about PHP 700,000 ($14,000 USD) worth of relief supplies had been distributed to the affected areas. At least PHP 480,000 ($10,000 USD) of the calamity funds were sent to the local governments in Negros Occidental
. On September 20, the Chinese Government allocated ¥
81 million ($11.8 million USD
) in living subsidies for those affected by the typhoon. The International Red Cross, which was already assisting China in recovery from flooding in August, took preparatory measures and worked with local branches to get damage assessments. The Zhejiang Red Cross branch provided ¥200,000 ($29,000 USD) in relief items to the hardest hit areas.
420,000 ($527,000 USD
) was provided to repair hospitals and an additional €110,000 ($138,000 USD) was planned to be sent. By the end of September, health kits were provided for 300,000 people and an additional $300,000 (USD) was provided for medical supplies in hospitals. From October 15 to 18, a Rapid Nutritional Screening of children took place in the worst affected areas. Eleven hospitals were restocked with medical supplies and a permanent water supply was constructed at the Wonsan general hospital. About $180,000 in aid from Norway was sent to North Korea. By October 22, 2007, 80 percent of the $14.1 million pledged in assistance had been funded. About 4,800 tonnes of cereal was to be distributed in October as part of the second shipment of food, following the first which was sent prior to Wipha. Funds and materials, worth $166,000 (USD), for revegetation were expected to arrive between December 2007 and February 2008.
Typhoon Saomai
The name Saomai has been used to name two tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The name is the Vietnamese name of the planet Venus .* 2000's Typhoon Saomai...
in August 2006. Forming out of a tropical disturbance on September 15, it quickly developed into a tropical storm, and intensified into a typhoon the following day with the appearance of an eye feature
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
. After a period of rapid intensification
Rapid deepening
Rapid deepening, also known as rapid intensification, is a meteorological condition that occurs when the minimum sea-level atmospheric pressure of a tropical cyclone decreases drastically in a short period of time. The National Weather Service describes rapid deepening as a decrease of...
, Wipha attained its peak intensity on September 18, with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and a barometric pressure of 925 mbar (hPa), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency
Japan Meteorological Agency
The or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport...
. Later that day, the storm began to weaken as it interacted with the mountainous terrain of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
before brushing the northern edge of the island. Wipha subsequently made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
near Fuding
Fuding
Fuding City is a county-level city in northeastern Ningde prefecture level city, on Fujian's border with Zhejiang province.-Administrative:Fuding was promoted to county-level city status in 1995...
along the Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
-Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
provincial border with winds estimated at 185 km/h (115 mph) by the JTWC. Shortly thereafter, the typhoon weakened as it moved inland, weakening to a tropical storm within 18 hours of moving over land.
Nearly 2 million residents along the Chinese coastline evacuated ahead of Typhoon Wipha's arrival. Nearly 20,000 Chinese soldiers were deployed to the area to assist residents in reinforcing flood barriers and speeding up evacuations. The typhoon triggered severe flooding with rainfall in excess of 353 mm (13.9 in). Roughly 13,000 homes were destroyed, 57,000 more were damaged and 100,000 hectares of farmland was inundated. Throughout China, 14 people were killed and damage amounted to ¥7.45 billion ($1 billion USD).
Although the center of the storm did not pass near the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, its outer rainbands brought severe flooding to Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
. Two people died and three others were listed as missing. Damage amounted to PHP 15.3 million ($314,000 USD). In Taiwan, high winds killed one person and injured another. Up to 495 mm (19.5 in) of precipitation caused landslides and flooding across the island. Agricultural losses in Taiwan amounted to NT$7.8 million (US$236,300). In Okinawa, high winds and rainfall up to 335 mm (13.2 in) caused significant damage and resulted in two fatalities. Seven homes across the islands were destroyed and damage totaled ¥28.3 billion ($285 million USD).
Meteorological history
Typhoon Wipha originated from a tropical disturbance that was first identified by the Joint Typhoon Warning CenterJoint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC) on September 13, 2007 roughly 1435 km (891.7 mi) east of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. Deep convection
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
had developed around an area of low pressure
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
that formed within the disturbance. Low wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
allowed the system to steadily develop as it moved northward. Late on September 14, convective banding features
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
had formed around the center of circulation, prompting the JTWC to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone forming from a tropical disturbance that has been...
. Several hours later, the Japan Meteorological Agency
Japan Meteorological Agency
The or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport...
(JMA) began monitoring the system as a tropical depression. At the same time, the JTWC declared that the disturbance had become Tropical Depression 13W. Shortly thereafter, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories, meteorological, astronomical, climatological, and other specialized information and...
(PAGASA) also began issuing advisories on the developing depression, assigning it the local name Goring. Initially, a Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough
Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough
A tropical upper tropospheric trough , also known as the mid-oceanic trough, is a trough situated in upper-level tropics. Its formation is usually caused by the intrusion of energy and wind from the mid-latitudes into the tropics. It can also develop from the inverted trough adjacent to an upper...
situated to the north of the depression suppressed convective development and outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
. However, late on September 15, this system weakened, leading to both the JTWC and JMA upgrading the depression to a tropical storm early on September 16. Upon being declared a tropical storm, the JMA assigned the name Wipha to the storm.
Throughout September 16, Wipha underwent a brief period of rapid intensification
Rapid deepening
Rapid deepening, also known as rapid intensification, is a meteorological condition that occurs when the minimum sea-level atmospheric pressure of a tropical cyclone decreases drastically in a short period of time. The National Weather Service describes rapid deepening as a decrease of...
, with the JTWC upgrading it to a Category 1 hurricane, on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, within 12 hours. The intensifying system maintained a northwesterly track in response to a subtropical
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
over the northwest Pacific. Early on September 17, Wipha was upgraded to a typhoon as 10-minute sustained winds reached 120 km/h (75 mph). A second round of rapid intensification took place through most of the day, leading to the typhoon attaining its peak intensity late on September 17 with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph 10-minute sustained) and a barometric pressure of 925 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(hPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
; 27.31 inHg). At the same time, the JTWC assessed Wipha to have nearly attained Category 5 status, peaking as a high-end Category 4 super typhoon with winds of 250 km/h (155 mph 1-minute sustained). Upon reaching this intensity, Wipha became the second strongest storm of the 2007 Pacific typhoon season
2007 Pacific typhoon season
The 2007 Pacific typhoon season was a below average season which featured 24 named storms and 14 typhoons, compared to the average of 27 and 17 respectively. had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2007, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and...
.
Not long after reaching its peak intensity, Wipha began to weaken as it started to interact with the high terrain of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Early on September 18, PAGASA issued their final advisory on Typhoon Goring as it left their area of responsibility. Later that day, the center of the typhoon passed roughly 130 km/h (80 mi) north of Taipei, Taiwan. Continued weakening took place as the storm neared landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
. Around 1800 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
, the eye of Wipha crossed the Chinese coastline near Wenzhou
Wenzhou
Wenzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. The area under its jurisdiction, which includes two satellite cities and six counties, had a population of 9,122,100 as of 2010....
with sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph 10-minute sustained). The JTWC assessed Wipha to have made landfall as a low-end Category 3 typhoon with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph 1-minute sustained). Rapid weakening took place as the storm moved further inland. The JTWC issued their final advisory on Wipha during the afternoon of September 19 as they classified the system as an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
. However, the JMA continued to monitor the system as a tropical depression until September 20. At this time, the remnants of Wipha had entered the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
and accelerated northeastward towards the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
. The extratropical remnants of Wipha persisted for several more hours before dissipating off the coast of North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
that afternoon.
Taiwan
The Songshan Airport in TaipeiTaipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
was shut down due to the threat of Typhoon Wipha. All businesses, including the stock exchange, were closed for September 18. Typhoon warnings were issued in northern areas of the island and residents were warned about the possibility of landslides in the mountainous regions. Accordingly, 169 people left landslide-prone areas. An additional 237 people were evacuated from the northern areas of Taiwan due to the storm. A code red alert was issued for the areas closest to the center of the cyclone. Nearly 4,300 Chinese fishermen sought refuge in Taiwan after being called back to port.
China
As Wipha approached the Chinese coastline, threatening the city of ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, one of the largest evacuations in the country's history took place. Local media warned that Wipha "may be the most destructive typhoon in a decade." More than 2 million people evacuated from coastal areas, 1.79 million of whom were in Zhejiang Province, the largest relocation of residents in the history of Zhejiang. Following the issuance of a Super Typhoon Warning, Shanghai officials evacuated 291,000 people from old buildings, temporary construction sites, and those who live near the coast. About 20,000 soldiers were sent to assist in the evacuation and reinforce flood barriers. A parade which was scheduled to take place in Shanghai was cancelled due to the warnings. About 365 workers were evacuated from the Pinghu oil rig located in the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
. Zoos caged animals and increased staff numbers to prevent escape and contain any fires which may be sparked by downed power lines. More than 39,000 people were evacuated from Jiangsu Province, mainly along the coast. Numerous cities cancelled schools and closed business for the day of and following the typhoon. The typhoon also caused FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
to reschedule four matches in the Women's World Cup. Nearly 40,000 vessels were recalled to port throughout China. About 250,000 people were also evacuated from Fujian Province with an additional 1.41 million text messages were also sent out to residents in the province. The China Meteorological Administration
China Meteorological Administration
The China Meteorological Administration , headquartered in Beijing, is the national weather service for the People's Republic of China.-History:...
(CMA) commenced "level one" emergency plan, the highest state of emergency. The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief commenced a "level two" flood control emergency plan and sent four teams to the provinces which were anticipated to be impacted by Wipha. Abut 50,000 factories in Zhejiang were shut down until Wipha passed. The large-scale evacuations resulted in a lower loss of life from the typhoon.
Japan and South Korea
In Okinawa, about 30,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas near rivers which threatened to overflow their banks. At least 50 flights in an out of the prefecture were also cancelled or delayed. Already hit by Typhoon NariTyphoon Nari (2007)
Typhoon Nari was a small and intense typhoon which struck the Korean Peninsula in early September 2007.-Meteorological history:...
just a few days prior to Wipha, South Korea began evacuating residents as the remnants of the typhoon were expected to hit the country. Rainfall was expected to impact South Korea for several days with accumulations exceeding 150 mm (6 in). About 940 people were evacuated to shelters throughout the country.
Impact
Philippines
Although Wipha did not directly impact the Philippines, the outer bands of the storm produced severe flooding in Negros OccidentalNegros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
. The flooding washed out large areas of agricultural land worth PHP
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
10.3 million ($211,000 USD). Numerous farm to market roads were also damaged or destroyed, costing PHP 5 million ($103,000 USD). The floods also destroyed 13 homes and damaged 31 others. A rare tornado spawned by the storm destroyed four homes and damaged 19 others. A total of 7,640 families were affected by Wipha in the Philippines. The heavy rains caused a landslide which killed one person on September 16. Another man drowned in a flood swollen river on September 21. Three other people were listed as missing after being swept away in a river swollen by Wipha.
Taiwan
One person was killed and another was injured in Taipei after a 20 m (65 ft) high scaffolding in a construction site collapsed. At least 495 mm (19 in) of rain fell in the mountains of Taiwan, triggering flooding which damaged about 24 hectares of crops, leaving NT$7.8 million (US$236,300) in losses. A total of 8,795 residences were left without power at the height of the storm. Several roads and bridges were also washed out from flooding. Officials in Taiwan recorded 29 landslides, mostly in northern areas, and urged residents to evacuate due to the possibility of more.China
The outer bands of Typhoon Wipha began impacting parts of eastern China on September 17. Heavy rains dropped up to 162 mm (6.3 in) in some cities, causing rivers to near flood stage. Eighty streets in Shanghai flooded due to the rains ahead of Wipha, with news reports showing waters rising up to people's knees. Upwards of 191 mm (7.5 in) of additional rain fell during the typhoon, causing significant flooding which destroyed at least 13,000 homes, damaged 57,000 others, and flooded over 160,000 hectares of farmland. At least 1,900 communities were left without power as high winds knocked down numerous power lines. A total of 14 people were killed in China in direct relation to Wipha. One man was electrocuted and died after stepping into floodwaters with live power lines submerged in the water. A landslide triggered by the heavy rains killed five people. At least 11 million people were affected by the storm in Fujian and Zhejiang. Once floodwaters receded, a car was found turned over, the five passengers inside were declared dead on scene. Damages in China amounted to ¥7.45 billion ($1 billion USDUnited States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
).
Japan
As Wipha brushed Okinawa, it produced upwards of 335 mm (13.1 in) throughout the islands, peaking on IshigakiIshigaki, Okinawa
Ishigaki is an island west of Okinawa Hontō and the second-largest island of the Yaeyama Island group. It is within the City of Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture. The city functions as the business and transport center of the archipelago...
. The highest winds were recorded on Ohara, Okinawa at 140 km/h (87 mph). Typhoon Wipha killed two people, one of which died during the evacuation from an illness, injured six others, and left another missing throughout the country. A total of seven homes were destroyed, four were damaged, and 39 others were affected. About 3,931 hectares of farmland, 7 km (4.3 mi) of roads, and three ports, along with ten ships, were damaged or destroyed. At the height of the storm, about 10,800 residences were without power. Damages from the storm amounted to ¥28.3 billion ($285 million USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
).
North Korea
Heavy rainfall from the typhoon's remnants, ruined over 100,000 hectares of crops and either damaged or destroyed 14,000 homes. Additionally, over 8,000 public buildings were partially or fully demolished. A total of 1,649 people were left homeless following the storm. A month prior to Wipha, deadly flooding impacted most of the country, leaving at least 600 people dead or missing and destroyed thousands of structures.Philippines and China
Following the flooding, the local governments in ValladolidValladolid, Negros Occidental
Valladolid is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. At the 2000 census, it had a population of 32,576 people in 6,653 households. The mayor of the municipality is Romel P...
and San Enrique
San Enrique, Negros Occidental
San Enrique is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 22,091 people in 4,419 households.-Barangays:San Enrique is politically subdivided into 10 barangays.* Bagonawa...
declared a state of calamity to allow funds to reach flood victims. By September 26, about PHP 700,000 ($14,000 USD) worth of relief supplies had been distributed to the affected areas. At least PHP 480,000 ($10,000 USD) of the calamity funds were sent to the local governments in Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
. On September 20, the Chinese Government allocated ¥
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
81 million ($11.8 million USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in living subsidies for those affected by the typhoon. The International Red Cross, which was already assisting China in recovery from flooding in August, took preparatory measures and worked with local branches to get damage assessments. The Zhejiang Red Cross branch provided ¥200,000 ($29,000 USD) in relief items to the hardest hit areas.
North Korea
Following the impacts of Wipha to the already severely flooded areas of North Korea, the International Red Cross delivered relief supplies to the 2,000 people made homeless by the typhoon. Hundreds of medical clinics which were damaged or destroyed set up makeshift clinics as up to 70 percent of the affected population reported abdominal pains or diarrhea. More than 23,000 volunteers from the Red Cross mobilized to provide quick rehabilitation in the affected regions. By mid-September, €Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
420,000 ($527,000 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) was provided to repair hospitals and an additional €110,000 ($138,000 USD) was planned to be sent. By the end of September, health kits were provided for 300,000 people and an additional $300,000 (USD) was provided for medical supplies in hospitals. From October 15 to 18, a Rapid Nutritional Screening of children took place in the worst affected areas. Eleven hospitals were restocked with medical supplies and a permanent water supply was constructed at the Wonsan general hospital. About $180,000 in aid from Norway was sent to North Korea. By October 22, 2007, 80 percent of the $14.1 million pledged in assistance had been funded. About 4,800 tonnes of cereal was to be distributed in October as part of the second shipment of food, following the first which was sent prior to Wipha. Funds and materials, worth $166,000 (USD), for revegetation were expected to arrive between December 2007 and February 2008.
See also
- 2007 Pacific typhoon season2007 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2007 Pacific typhoon season was a below average season which featured 24 named storms and 14 typhoons, compared to the average of 27 and 17 respectively. had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2007, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and...
- Timeline of the 2007 Pacific typhoon seasonTimeline of the 2007 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2007 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2007, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...