High Waves and Strong Winds Prevail
As Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc on the East coast of the U.S. in August, a similar summer cyclone storm was developing in the Northwest Pacific Ocean heading toward Japan. This raging storm became Typhoon Number 12. Most damage was done in Wakayama Prefecture as the typhoon slowly moved across the lower middle section of the archipelago, eventually moving away from Japan in a northeasterly direction. The Yomiuri Shimbun (newspaper) reported 29 people had died with 51 people missing on September 6.
Typhoons are simply intense cyclone storms (large low pressure systems) that develop as warm waters make contact with rising moisture from the ocean’s surface. They become typhoons when winds reach at least 56 miles per hour.
Hurricanes are usually given names, but in Japan typhoons are numbered from the first one that might form as early as May to the end of the typhoon season usually in October. August and September are peak months for the formation of typhoons in and around Japan. Each year is different, but as many as 30 typhoons may form each year. Okinawa Prefecture may be affected by as many as one-third of the typhoons in the area. However, any area of Japan might be influenced by a typhoon.
The most recorded damage from a typhoon occurred during the Hakata Bay Typhoon of 1281. It was reported that 65,000 people lost their lives. 15,000 more people perished in the Nagasaki Typhoon in 1828. The Isewan Typhoon in 1959 cost the lives of 5,000 people. The largest recorded loss of life unfortunately happened in the Bay of Bengal in the Great Bhola Cyclone in Bangladesh in 1970. It is unimaginable to me, but 500,000 lives were lost.
A Super Typhoon Developing
Luckily I have never experienced any real danger during a typhoon. I do not live near water where there is often casualties, but I have felt the strong winds and sudden downpours that a typhoon does bring. Japan is a wonderful place to live, but I do remind myself that not only earthquakes, but also typhoons can cause a lot of problems for people living here.
