Typhoon Ruth was a typhoon that hit Japan in October 1951.[1][2]
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | October 8, 1951 |
Dissipated | October 15, 1951 |
Category 4-equivalent typhoon | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 220 km/h (140 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 924 hPa (mbar); 27.29 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 572 died, 371 missing |
Areas affected | Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Yap, Japan |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1951 Pacific typhoon season |
Storm warnings were issued for southern Japan on October 13.[3] Planes in Tokyo were grounded and courier service to Korea was suspended.[4]
Ruth impacted Japan between October 13–15, killing 572 people and injuring another 2,644; 371 people were left unaccounted for.[5] Many of these deaths arose from river flooding triggered by Ruth.[6] The storm damaged 221,118 homes and 9,596 ships, as well as some 3.5 million bushels of rice.[5] Due to Ruth's large size, much of the country was affected by the typhoon's winds and rains. A peak wind gust of 195 km/h (121 mph) and a rainfall total of 639.3 mm (25.17 in) was recorded at Kamiyaku, Kagoshima; both of these values were the highest recorded in Japan from Ruth.[6] Yamaguchi Prefecture was most severely impacted by the typhoon.[5][7] Coastal areas were inundated and communications were disrupted.[8] Winds reaching 150 km/h (95 mph) and waves 13.5 m (44 ft) high struck Sasebo, Nagasaki, sinking ships and damaging others in the harbor; among them were warships deployed for the Korean War.[9] American military installations throughout Japan incurred over US$1 million in damage.[10] Overall property damage in Japan was estimated at US$25 million, affecting an estimated 123,773 people;[11] total damage to property, crops, and forests reached US$55 million.[12]