Okinawa and Kyushu, islands in southern Japan, are particularly vulnerable to typhoons. These powerful storms bring high winds, torrential rain, and devastating storm surges. This article explores the history of typhoons in these regions, highlighting their impact and emphasizing the need for support for affected communities.
Your donations help Peace Winds provide long-term recovery aid in Japan. You can donate from abroad.
Peace Winds is a non-profit organization that supports disaster relief and recovery in Japan and abroad.Your donations will allow them to provide immediate relief when disasters strike and to maintain long-term recovery programs as communities rebuild.Check out Peace Winds’ website to learn about current programs that are helping communities in need.
*Gooddo is partnering with Peace Winds, a nonprofit organization that supports disaster relief and recovery in Japan and abroad.
Okinawa Typhoon Season: Understanding the Threat
Okinawa’s typhoon season typically runs from summer to autumn. The island’s location makes it a prime target for these storms.
Kyushu Typhoon Season: A History of Destruction
Kyushu also experiences a typhoon season from summer to autumn. The region’s geography, including its long coastline, increases its vulnerability to storm surges and flooding.
Kagoshima prefecture has recorded the highest number of typhoon landfalls in Japan (43) between 1951 and 2021, highlighting the region’s susceptibility. Other Kyushu prefectures, including Nagasaki (18), Miyazaki (14), and Kumamoto (8), also rank high in terms of typhoon landfalls during the same period.
Significant Typhoons in Recent History
The past two decades have witnessed several devastating typhoons striking Okinawa and Kyushu.
1999: Typhoons 16 and 18 caused widespread damage across Japan, including Okinawa and Kyushu. Typhoon 16, landing in Miyazaki Prefecture, brought over 200 mm of rainfall. Nationwide, seven fatalities, one missing person, and eleven injuries were reported, alongside significant damage to homes, including nine destroyed and over 3,000 flooded.
Typhoon 18, impacting Okinawa with over 555mm of rain and Miyazaki with 486mm, resulted in 31 fatalities and 1,218 injuries nationwide. The storm destroyed 338 homes and flooded approximately 20,000.
2001: Typhoon 16 followed an unusual path, lingering near Okinawa for three days. This resulted in record rainfall, with 551.5mm in Naha and a staggering 967.5mm in Kumejima. The prolonged storm caused two fatalities/missing persons and nine injuries. The storm caused significant damage to homes, including 338 destroyed, 3,629 partially destroyed, 4,895 flooded above floor level, and 14,755 flooded below floor level.
2003: Typhoon 10 brought heavy rainfall exceeding 400mm in parts of Kyushu, although it didn’t make landfall there. Okinawa experienced wind speeds nearing 30 m/s with gusts up to 48.7m/s. Nationwide, the typhoon caused 17 fatalities, two missing persons, and 94 injuries, along with considerable damage to structures.
2004: This year saw multiple powerful typhoons. Typhoon 16, making landfall in Kagoshima, brought 600-800mm of rain to Kyushu, resulting in 14 fatalities, three missing persons, and 260 injuries, with widespread damage to over 46,000 structures.
Typhoon 18, crossing Okinawa and making landfall in Nagasaki, brought record wind speeds exceeding 50 m/s and over 900mm of rain in parts of Kyushu, causing 43 fatalities, three missing persons, and almost 1,400 injuries. Damage to structures exceeded 84,000.
Typhoon 23, while not directly hitting Kyushu, still caused over 500mm of rain in Oita Prefecture. Across Japan, the typhoon resulted in 95 fatalities, numerous injuries, and widespread damage to over 67,000 structures.
2005: Typhoon 14, landing in Nagasaki, brought over 1000mm of rain to Miyazaki Prefecture, including 1,322mm in Nangou Village. Wind speeds reached almost 60 m/s. The typhoon resulted in 28 fatalities, one missing person, and 177 injuries, damaging over 18,000 structures.
2006: Typhoon 13, impacting Okinawa and Kyushu, brought record wind speeds, including 69.9m/s in Taketomi Town, Ishigaki Island, and heavy rainfall. The storm caused nine fatalities, one missing person, 448 injuries, and damage to over 12,600 structures.
2014: Typhoon 8, crossing between Okinawa and Miyakojima before making landfall in Kagoshima, brought heavy rain and strong winds, causing three fatalities and 66 injuries. Over 1,400 structures were damaged or flooded.
2015: A series of typhoons (9-12) and a persistent Meiyu front caused widespread rain and wind damage, particularly in southern Kyushu and the Amami Islands. Rainfall exceeded 2000mm in some areas. The combined impact of these weather systems resulted in two fatalities, 59 injuries, and damage or flooding to over 800 structures.
2017: Typhoon 3, making landfall in Nagasaki, brought heavy rainfall, exceeding 500mm in some areas. The resulting floods and landslides caused numerous fatalities, primarily in Fukuoka (22) and Oita (3) prefectures, and widespread damage to over 4,000 structures.
2018: The July 2018 heavy rains, influenced by Typhoon 7 and a stationary front, caused record rainfall in Kyushu and other regions. This widespread disaster resulted in 224 fatalities, eight missing persons, and hundreds of injuries nationwide, along with devastating damage to over 50,000 structures.
Later, Typhoon 24 brought high winds exceeding 50 m/s to the Amami Islands and caused damage across Japan, though relatively less in Kyushu.
2019-2020: Typhoon Hagibis (Typhoon 19), while primarily impacting central Japan, caused significant damage nationwide. The 2020 heavy rains, impacting Kyushu and other regions, resulted in 84 fatalities and significant damage.
The Increasing Threat of Climate Change
Climate change is projected to increase the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, including typhoons. This poses an increasing threat to vulnerable regions like Okinawa and Kyushu.
How Your Donation Can Help
Donations are crucial for supporting relief and recovery efforts after a typhoon. They provide essential resources like shelter, food, medical supplies, and assistance with rebuilding homes and infrastructure. The recovery process is long-term and requires ongoing support.
Conclusion
Okinawa and Kyushu are frequently impacted by typhoons, causing devastating damage and hardship. Your donation can make a significant difference in helping these communities recover and rebuild. Please donate today to support those affected by these powerful storms.
Your donations help Peace Winds provide long-term recovery aid in Japan. You can donate from abroad.
Peace Winds is a non-profit organization that supports disaster relief and recovery in Japan and abroad.Your donations will allow them to provide immediate relief when disasters strike and to maintain long-term recovery programs as communities rebuild.Check out Peace Winds’ website to learn about current programs that are helping communities in need.
*Gooddo is partnering with Peace Winds, a nonprofit organization that supports disaster relief and recovery in Japan and abroad.