1975 – Super Typhoon Niña (1)

THE 1975 Pacific typhoon season was one of the deadliest tropical cyclone seasons on record. In 1975 there were typhoons year-round. The typhoon season generally begins in June and ends in October. Yet in 1975, the first typhoon formed on January 21 and the last one dissipated on December 29. In all, the Pacific Northwest region and its people faced 20 storms, 14 of which became typhoons.

The notable storm here is Typhoon Niña, which caused tens of thousands of residents in Mainland China to perish and likely over 100,000 more from epidemic resulting from the floodwaters afterwards.

Dam failures are comparatively rare, but cause immense damage and loss of life when they occur. Typhoon Niña and the Banqiao Dam catastrophe are one of the deadliest natural disasters in the 20th century. The disaster is known in China as ‘The Henan 75.8 Flood’ (with 75.8 signifying August 8, 1975).

On July 29, 1975, a tropical disturbance arose from a trough line in the Philippine Sea which eventually underwent

explosive development. The super-typhoon Niña attained the intensity of 250 km/h at its peak, but it began to weaken as it approached Taiwan, making landfall on August 3 near the coast city of Hualien, Taiwan, as a Category 3 storm with 185 km/h winds. The impact of Nina upon Taiwan was moderate since it made landfall in the central mountain, far enough from any populous areas.

The storm’s power had waned by the time it made second landfall in Fujian province, China on August 3. Winds were down to about 110km/h. August 4, Niña was downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm. However, it regained its strength over land. It moved northwest before shifting north, arriving in the eastcentral province of Henan on August 5. The area was home to the Banqiao Dam.

(To be continued)