Typhoon Haitang
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| Typhoon (JMA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 5 super typhoon (SSHS) | |||
 Super Typhoon Haitang off Taiwan. |
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| Formed | July 11, 2005 | ||
| Dissipated | July 20, 2005 | ||
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 920 mbar | ||
| Damage | Not Available | ||
| Fatalities | 13 confirmed | ||
| Areas affected |
Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and China | ||
| Part of the 2005 Pacific typhoon season |
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Typhoon Haitang (international designation: 0505, JTWC designation: 05W, PAGASA name Typhoon Feria, also sometimes known as Super Typhoon Haitang) was the first super typhoon of the 2005 season in the northwestern Pacific. It had winds up to 255 km/h (160 mph) at peak intensity, and caused over 18 serious injuries and 13 confirmed deaths in Taiwan and China.
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[edit] Storm history
It formed on the evening of July 11 as a poorly organized depression about 280 km (110 nm) west of Marcus Island, Japan at 1200 UTC (2000 JST). By 1800 UTC (0300 JST July 13), it had reached tropical storm strength and was named Haitang, a Chinese name for flowering crabapple. It grew to typhoon strength at 1800 UTC (0300 JST July 14) the following day. As it moved westward it continued to gain in strength, reaching category three status as it entered the Philippine area of responsibility. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) named the storm Feria for Philippine warnings on July 15. By July 16, the storm continued tracking west and became a threat to Taiwan and Japan's Sakishima Islands. Haitang strengthened into a category 5 super typhoon. On July 17 it weakened to a category 3 as it continued west, sparing Sakishima a direct hit but aiming directly for Taiwan. Typhoon Haitang made landfall near Hualien, Taiwan at 0000 UTC (0800 HKT) on the morning of July 18. Taking a full day to cross the island and it caused flash floods and landslides as it passed over the interior mountains. Weakening to a tropical storm as it entered the South China Sea, it reorganized into a minimal typhoon as it approached the southeast China coast. Haitang made landfall for the second time near Wenzhou China on July 19 at 1200 UTC (2000 HKT). Moving inland, it rapidly lost its strength and dissipated. PAGASA stopped issuing advisories for the storm near Jiangxi on July 20.
[edit] Impact
Businesses and schools across Taiwan were ordered closed on July 18 due to the typhoon. Over 750,000 people were evacuated in China, anticipating the arrival of Haitang. The typhoon hit the southeastern coast of Chinese mainland Tuesday afternoon. All flights were canceled in the cities of Fuzhou and Quanzhou, and reports of up to 1 million people were evacuated from their homes.
In Taiwan, 2 women were found dead east of Taipei, a man was killed by falling rocks, and a fourth victim was swept away by water while fishing. More than 1,500 people had been evacuated, mostly from northern Taiwan, and signs of devastation could be seen such as uprooted trees, high waves and loss of electric power. Xinhua news agency reported that in China, thousands of homes had been damaged and thousands of farm animals killed or injured. Human fatalities were mimimal however, with three reported deaths in the mainland.
