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Draft:1967 Southern Japan floods

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Background

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Typhoon Billie

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File:Billie 1967 path.png
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

An enhancer to the front which caused the flooding,[1] Billie originated from a tropical depression with a minimum pressure of 1,006 hPa (29.7 inHg) located well southwest of the Mariana Islands.[2] Slowly deepening during the next three days as it tracked northwestward, on July 2, it intensified into a tropical storm, being named Billie by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.[2] The next day, it crossed into the Philippine Area of Responsibility, being named Herming by PAGASA.[3] Around that time, the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron investigated Billie, revealing that the system was loosely organized, with most convective activity persisting in its southwest quadrant.[4] Embedded in a major trough axis,[4] Billie recurved westward the next day.[2] Rapid intensification ensued, with Billie intensifying 35 mph (55 km/h) during that time, becoming a typhoon and peaking with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 hPa (29 inHg).[2] Despite exhibiting a mesoscale warm core, Billie never was able to develop an eyewall which encircled its eye, preventing the typhoon from intensifying further.[4] This caused Billie to undergo several cycles of weakening and restrengthening from July 5–6 as it recurved northwestwards.[2] However, soon after, Billie weakened into a tropical storm, exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility on July 7 prior to weakening into a tropical depression on 18:00 UTC the next day.[2][3] This depression became an extratropical low the next day,[2][1] passing through Japan and exiting on July 9. This system tracked westward prior to dissipating near the International Date Line on July 12.[2]

Impact

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Hiroshima Prefecture

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In the town of Kure, over a hundred people were buried when cliffs weakened by the flooding gave way.[5] Seventy-one of those people were later rescued.[5]

Hyōgo Prefecture

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In Ashiya, four buildings were destroyed, one building partially collapsed, and 1,242 buildings were damaged due to the floods.[6] Two deaths were recorded in the city.[6] Elsewhere, in Kobe, a car with twelve people was swept away by heavy winds.[7]

Nagasaki Prefecture

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The city of Sasebo saw 15 in (38 cm) of rainfall from the storm.[5] At least fifteen people died in the city when mudslides spilled into a housing area, with more bodies discovered under the mire.[8]

Aftermath

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Following the floods, the Japanese government sent thousands of policemen and soldiers to clean debris, restore communications, and search for victims.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "昭和42年7月豪雨 昭和42年(1967年) 7月8日~7月9日" (in Japanese). Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "1967 Typhoon BILLIE (1967181N09148)". IBTrACS. Asheville, North Carolina: University of North Carolina at Asheville. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b Padua, Michael V. (November 6, 2008). PAGASA Tropical Cyclone Names 1963–1988 (TXT) (Report). Typhoon 2000. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Fett, Robert W. (September 1968). "SOME UNUSUAL ASPECTS CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE OF TYPHOON BILLIE—JULY 1967". Monthly Weather Review. 96 (9): 637–648. Bibcode:1968MWRv...96..637F. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1968)096<0637:SUACTD>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Hundreds Lost in Japan Typhoon". Vol. LXXVI, no. 45. Appleton Post Crescent. Associated Press. 10 July 1967. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b 1967-07-07_NJM016_Rxxxxx_JP34203-034839-15 (PDF) (Report) (in Japanese). National Research Institute. 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  7. ^ "The Cobalt Daily Nuggei". The Cobalt Daily Nuggei.
  8. ^ "Hundreds Left Dead, Missing In Tokyo Flood". The Times-News. Vol. 92, no. 160. United Press International. 10 July 1967. p. 4. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Storm Eases, Leaves 263 Dead In Japan". Vol. 82, no. 160. Meriden Journal. Associated Press. July 10, 1967. p. 6. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

See also

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