| Typhoon (JMA) | |
|---|---|
| Category 1 typhoon (SSHS) | |
| Typhoon Dan on October 9, 1989 | |
| Formed | October 6, 1989 |
| Dissipated | October 13, 1989 |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 140 km/h (85 mph) 1-minute sustained: 130 km/h (80 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 960 mbar (hPa; 28.35 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 65 |
| Damage | $30 million (1989 USD) |
| Areas affected | Philippines and Vietnam |
| Part of the 1989 Pacific typhoon season | |
Typhoon Dan (International designation: 8926; PAGASA designation: Saling) was a minimal typhoon that affected the Philippines and Vietnam in October 1989. The storm developed on October 6, and tracked generally westward throughout its course. After crossing Luzon, the typhoon emerged into the South China Sea and reached its peak intensity, with sustained 10-minute winds of 140 km/h (85 mph), 1-minute winds of 130 km/h (80 mph), and a minimum barometric pressure of 960 millibars. The storm moved ashore in central Vietnam and dissipated after moving inland. The storm caused extensive damage throughout its course. In the Philippines, Dan left hundreds of thousands homeless and killed 58 people. Power outages were extensive in the Manila region. In Vietnam, the storm's high winds damaged structures and caused seven casualties.
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On October 6, 1989, a tropical disturbance formed in the monsoon trough near the island of Chuuk. An advisory by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) assessed the system as having a "poor" chance to develop due to strong wind shear in the region. A day later, the potential of development was adjusted to "fair". On October 8, the wind shear relented and a well-defined band persisted near the storm's center of circulation. As a result, a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued.[1] That same day, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the storm as a tropical depression.[2] At 1200 UTC, the JTWC issued their first warning on Tropical Depression 29W. At the time, it was centered about 70 mi (110 km) northeast of Yap.[1]
About 18 hours later, the depression was upgraded to a tropical storm and given the name Dan. The cyclone moved westward at 17 to 23 mph (27 to 37 km/h), and convection continued to mature. Outflow was good across most of the system, except the northwestern corner where it was restricted by interaction with a nearby typhoon.[1] The JMA upgraded it to a tropical storm on October 9; both agencies recognized it as a typhoon the next day after an eye became visible and outflow improved in the northwestern quadrant.[1][2] Dan made landfall on the southeastern coast of Luzon in the Philippines, and its center tracked just south of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.[1]
Dan crossed over the island and emerged into the South China Sea, having lost its eye feature and weakened back into a tropical storm. Convection soon redeveloped as the storm moved northwestward through warm waters. The JTWC reports that Dan reattained typhoon status at 0000 UTC on October 12,[1] although it according to the JMA it did so 24 hours earlier.[2] The typhoon continued to intensify, and the JTWC estimates that it reached its peak intensity at 0600 UTC, with 1-minute maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h (80 mph).[1] The JMA indicates that Dan peaked slightly afterward, with 10-minute sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure reading of 960 millibars.[2]
The storm passed about 70 mi (110 km) south of Hainan Island and weakened somewhat. Increased wind shear further deteroirated the system as it approached the coast of Vietnam. The storm moved inland at around 1200 UTC on October 13,[1] at which point the JMA downgraded it to a severe tropical storm and the JTWC issued their final advisory on the disturbance.[1][2] The circulation ultimately dissipated over the mountainous terrain and its remnants continued to move westward into Laos.[1]
Although it was relatively weak, the storm caused severe damage. In the Philippines, 58 fatalities from the cyclone were reported, with an additional 121 injuries. In total, 682,699 people, or 135,245 families, were affected by the typhoon, and 49,972 houses sustained damage. Monetary storm damage is placed at ₱1.4 billion PHP ($30.10700 USD).[3] The storm triggered flooding and landslides, while high winds brought down trees and powerlines. The second typhoon to strike the country within a week, Dan forced schools and government offices to close.[4] Approximately 250,000 people were left homeless,[5] and dozens of fishermen went missing offshore. In the Manila area, near-total power loss was reported.[6] President Corazon Aquino issued a "state of calamity" there and in surrounding areas. As the storm progressed westward, it buffeted Hainan Island with gale-force winds.[5]
Damage in Vietnam was also extensive. The typhoon flooded about 230,000 acres (93,000 ha) of land and brought down utility lines.[1] The high winds, reportedly blowing at 75 mph (121 km/h), ripped roofs off houses. Large storm tides along the coast pushed flood waters ashore. The storm killed seven people in the country.[7]