Wikipedia

Typhoon Gay

This article is about the 1989 storm. For other uses, seeList of storms named Gay.

Typhoon Gay,also known as theKavali Cyclone of 1989,[1]was a small but powerfultropical cyclonewhich caused more than 800 fatalities in and around theGulf of Thailandin November 1989. The worst typhoon to affect theMalay Peninsulain thirty-five years, Gay originated from amonsoon troughover the Gulf of Thailand in early November. Owing to favorable atmospheric conditions, the stormrapidly intensified,attaining winds over 120 km/h (75 mph) by 3 November.[nb 1]Later that day, Gay became the first typhoon since 1891 to makelandfallin Thailand, strikingChumphon Provincewith winds of 185 km/h (115 mph). The small storm emerged into theBay of Bengaland gradually reorganized over the following days as it approached southeastern India. On 8 November, Gay attained its peak intensity as aCategory 5-equivalentcyclone with winds of 260 km/h (160 mph). The cyclone then moved ashore nearKavali,Andhra Pradesh.Rapid weakening ensued inland, and Gay dissipated overMaharashtraearly on 10 November.

Typhoon Gay
Kavali Cyclone of 1989
Gay at peak intensity before making landfall on India, on 8 November
Meteorological history
Formed1 November 1989
Dissipated10 November 1989
Super cyclonic storm
3-minute sustained(IMD)
Highest winds230 km/h (145 mph)
Lowest pressure930hPa(mbar); 27.46inHg
Very strong typhoon
10-minute sustained(JMA)
Highest winds165 km/h (105 mph)
Lowest pressure960hPa(mbar); 28.35inHg
Category 5-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained(SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds260 km/h (160 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities1,036 total
Damage$521 million (1989USD)
Areas affectedThailand,Myanmar,India
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the1989 Pacific typhoonand
North Indian Ocean cycloneseasons

The typhoon's rapid development took hundreds of vessels by surprise, leading to 275 offshore fatalities. Of these, 91 occurred after an oil drilling ship, theSeacrest,capsized amid 6–11 m (20–36 ft) swells. Across the Malay Peninsula, 588 people died from various storm-related incidents. Several towns in coastal Chumphon were destroyed. Losses throughout Thailand totaled฿11 billion (US $497 million).[nb 2]Striking India as a powerful cyclone, Gay damaged or destroyed about 20,000 homes inAndhra Pradesh,leaving 100,000 people homeless. In that country, 69 deaths and₹410 million (US $25.3 million) in damage were attributed to Gay.

Meteorological history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Storm type
Extratropical cyclone,remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

In early November, amonsoon troughover theGulf of Thailandshowed signs oftropical cyclogenesis.A small, concentrated area ofconvectionquickly developed over alow-pressure areawithin the trough, and on 2 November the system became sufficiently organized for theJoint Typhoon Warning Center(JTWC) to issue aTropical Cyclone Formation Alert.[nb 3]Owing to its small size, the system began strengthening within the narrow gulf by taking advantage of warm waters and goodoutflow.Moving generally northwestward, it became a tropical depression later that day and underwentrapid intensification.As the newly named Tropical Storm Gay strengthened, it "presented a paradox to forecasters", according toLieutenantDianne K. Crittenden;synoptic datafromMalaysiaandThailandindicated decreasing wind speeds and increasingbarometric pressuresaround the storm, but these observations were later interpreted as increasedsubsidence.[3]

Strengthening faster than anticipated, Gay attained typhoon status early on 3 November. Later that day, the storm developed aneyebefore passing over theSeacrest,an oil drilling ship.[3]On 4 November, Gay's winds increased to 185 km/h (115 mph), equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on theSaffir–Simpson hurricane scale,before makinglandfallinChumphon Province,Thailand,at 0600UTC.[4]TheJapan Meteorological Agencyassessed that the storm had ten-minute sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) and a pressure of 960mbar(hPa;28.35inHg).[5][nb 4]Crossing theKra Isthmus,Gay weakened to minimal typhoon status as it entered theBay of Bengal.[3][4]According to theIndia Meteorological Department (IMD),[nb 5]Gay was the first typhoon since 1891 to form in the Gulf of Thailand and enter the Bay of Bengal.[8]Responding to aridgeto its north, Gay maintained a west-northwestward to northwestward track for the next four days. The storm gradually restrengthened as it moved through an area of lowwind shearand warm waters; however, this was limited by restrictions to the cyclone's outflow.[3]Early on 6 November, Gay passed near theAndaman Islandsas aCategory 2-equivalentcyclone.[4]

Gay at its initial peak intensity on 3 November, hours before making landfall in theMalay Peninsula

After changing little in intensity for much of 6 November, Gay strengthened as the ridge to its north intensified and the previous restrictions to its outflow diminished. The storm moved due west through a smallfetchof warmer waters, fueling the process of intensification over the next 42 hours. Based on estimates provided through the use of theDvorak technique,the JTWC assessed Gay to have attained its peak intensity as aCategory 5-equivalentcyclone with winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) early on 8 November.[3][4]Around this time, the IMD estimated that the storm had three-minute sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph), classifying Gay as a modern-daysuper cyclonic storm.[1][9]Additionally, the agency estimated the cyclone's central pressure to have decreased to 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg).[10]Around 1800 UTC, Gay made landfall over a sparsely populated area nearKavali,India, inAndhra Pradesh.Upon coming ashore, the storm's eye was about 20 km (12 mi) wide, with gale-force winds within 95 km (60 mi) of the center.[3][11]Now over land, Gay no longer had access to warm waters, causing it to weaken to a tropical storm less than twelve hours after this landfall.[3]The storm continued to deteriorate while moving across India, before it completely dissipated overMaharashtraon 10 November.[4]

Impact and aftermath

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Gulf of Thailand

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The most powerful storm to affect theGulf of Thailandin more than thirty-five years, Gay produced 6–11 m (20–36 ft)swellswhich caught many ships in the region off-guard.[12]At least 16 vessels were reported missing by 5 November, including the 106 m (348 ft)Unocal Corporationoil drilling shipSeacrest.[13]According to survivors, the vessel received no warning of the developing typhoon.[14]Just when all crew members were about to abandon ship, the eye passed over. Winds fluctuated violently and changed direction, preventing the ship from remaining stabilized despite being within safe operating limits. The vessel abruptly capsized with all 97 crew members on board during the overnight hours of 3 November, before any life boats could be deployed.[13][14]Initial rescue attempts on 4 November were hampered by rough seas.[15]Two days after the sinking, four rescue ships and two helicopters in the region were searching for survivors;[13]four people were rescued from the wreckage on 6 November. Divers from the Thai Navy were sent to search the capsized vessel for anyone trapped inside.[16]Of the crew, only six survived; 25 bodies were recovered, and the remaining 66 members were presumed dead.[14][17]Losses from the sinking of theSeacresttotaled $40 million.[18]Another 20 cargo and fishing ships sank during the storm, resulting in 140 fatalities.[19]

Thailand

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Effects in Thailand[20]
Casualties and damage
Province Deaths Missing Damage
Chumphon 446 0 $439,736,924
Prachuap Khiri Khan 19 84 $7,810,000
Ranong 21 0 $3,550,000
Pattani 2 0 N/A
Surat Thani 66 0 $2,778,250
Rayong 3 50 $1,259,023
Phetchaburi 1 0 $879
Trat 0 0 $63,008
Offshore 184 0 $1,210,938
Seacrest 91 0 $40,000,000
Total 833 134 $496,511,534
Downed trees and damaged buildings in Chumphon Province

Striking Thailand with unprecedented strength, Typhoon Gay caused catastrophic damage across many of its provinces.[12]Areas between Chumphon and Rayong provinces were severely affected by heavy rains, high winds and large swells.[21]Rainfall amounts peaked at Chumphon, where 7.64 inches (194 mm) fell during the cyclone's passage.[22]Widespread disruption of communication and electricity occurred in most areas south ofBangkok;many households remained without power for weeks.[23]Damaging winds uprooted numerous trees and power poles and toppled wooden houses built on stilts.[24]Exacerbated bydeforestation,[20]flash floodingtriggered by the storm damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and caused at least 365 fatalities.[25]Several towns and villages across Chumphon province were devastated, and one of the destroyed villages "looked like it had been bombed" according to theBangkok Post.[26]Entire districts were reportedly "flattened" in Chumphon and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces.[24]The typhoon destroyed many schools across Chumphon and Surat Thani provinces, many of which were constructed of wood. All structures close to the storm's path had their windows and doors blown out, and some multi-story buildings lost their upper floors. A few schools constructed from reinforced concrete sustained little damage.[27]More than a thousand roads and 194 bridges were damaged or washed away.[20]At the height of the floods, over 250,000 hectares (620,000 acres) of land was under water.[28]Onshore, 558 fatalities were attributed to the storm, and another 44 died just offshore.[20]Throughout Thailand, approximately 47,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and more than 200,000 people were affected, of which about 153,000 were left homeless.[20][28]Monetary losses reached 11 billion baht (US$456.5 million), ranking Gay as one of the costliest disasters in the country's history.[29]

Within a week of the storm's passage, the Government of Thailand began distributing relief goods to residents throughout the affected provinces.[23]Despite the effort by the government, 2,500 people from Pa Thiew andTha Saedemonstrated for additional and more intensive aid on 9 November. These protests were soon dispersed.[30]Following considerable criticism for downplaying the impact of the typhoon,Prime MinisterChatichai Choonhavandelayed his visit to the United States to oversee relief efforts.[25]By 15 November the United States pledged to donate US$25,000 for recovery operations. Telephone connection was restored from Bangkok toPrachuap Khiri Khanby this time; however, areas further south remained disconnected. Generators were brought in to keep hospitals and government offices running since much of Chumphon Province remained without electricity for more than two weeks. As the scale of damage became more apparent, a request for international aid was made by 17 November to the United Nations Disaster Relief Organization. Upon the announcement of the request, six countries pledged to provide nearly US$510,000 in funds collectively.[20][23]Agriculture across Surat Thani Province was severely affected by the typhoon in the long-term as well. In the four years following Typhoon Gay, land use for orchards, rubber, and oil palm plantations decreased from 33.32 percent to 30.53 percent. Additionally, rice paddy coverage decreased from 22.96 percent to 13.03 percent.[31]

Following post-storm surveys, it was determined that most of the severely damaged schools had been built improperly – building codes in Thailand mandate that structures withstand up to 120 kgf/m2of pressure from winds. In the years following the typhoon, studies determined how best to rebuild: reinforced concrete structures which can last fifty years.[27]

India

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After crossing the Malay Peninsula, Gay moved through theAndaman Islandson 6 November. As a precautionary measure, all air and sea traffic were suspended to the region. Winds in excess of 120 km/h (75 mph) batteredNorth Andaman Island,causing two structures to collapse.[8]A few days before the cyclone made landfall, officials inAndhra Pradeshbegan evacuating roughly 50,000 residents along the coast and stockpiled relief goods. Some people were forced to leave vulnerable locations in theVisakhapatnamandSrikakulam districts.[32][33]Local meteorologists warned that the storm was comparable to acyclone in 1977that killed more than ten thousand.[34]Striking the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh, Gay produced wind gusts estimated at 230 km/h (145 mph).[35]Along the coast, astorm surgeof 3.5 m (11 ft) inundated areas up to 3 km (1.9 mi) inland, washing away numerous structures.[10][36]About 20 km (12 mi) outside ofKavali,a 91 m (299 ft) tall,steel latticemicrowave towercollapsed after experiencing winds estimated at 142 km/h (88 mph).[37]Transportation and communication across the region was disrupted and 20,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving at least 100,000 people homeless.[38]Nearly every structure in Annagaripalem were severely damaged or destroyed.[39]Offshore, 25 fishermen drowned nearMachilipatnamafter ignoring warnings to return to port.[40]Throughout Andhra Pradesh, 69 fatalities and₹410 million (US$25.3 million) worth of damage was attributed to Gay.[10][41]In the months after the storm, concrete shelters were built to house displaced persons.[39]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^All sustained wind speeds are based on one-minute standards unless otherwise stated.
  2. ^All damage figures in the article are in 1989 United States dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated.
  3. ^TheJoint Typhoon Warning Centeris a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the western Pacific Ocean and other regions.[2]
  4. ^TheJapan Meteorological Agencyis the officialRegional Specialized Meteorological Centerfor the western Pacific Ocean.[6]
  5. ^TheIndia Meteorological Departmentis the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the northern Indian Ocean.[7]

References

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  1. ^abG.S. Mandal & Akhilesh Gupta (1996). "The Wind Structure, Size and Damage Potential of Some Recent Cyclone of Hurricane Intensity in the North Indian Ocean".Advances in Tropical Meteorology(50). New Delhi, India: Indian Meteorological Society: 421.
  2. ^"Joint Typhoon Warning Center Mission Statement".Joint Typhoon Warning Center.United States Navy. 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 26 July 2007.Retrieved25 December2011.
  3. ^abcdefgLt. Dianne K. Crittenden (1990)."1989 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: Typhoon Gay (32W)"(PDF).Joint Typhoon Warning Center.United States Navy. pp. 166–172. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 February 2013.Retrieved25 December2011.
  4. ^abcde"Typhoon 32W Best Track".Joint Typhoon Warning Center.United States Navy. 1990. Archived fromthe original(.TXT)on 8 December 2015.Retrieved25 December2011.
  5. ^Japan Meteorological Agency (10 October 1992)."RSMC Best Track Data – 1980–1989".Archived fromthe original(.TXT)on 5 December 2014.Retrieved25 December2011.
  6. ^"Annual Report on Activities of the RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center 2000"(PDF).Japan Meteorological Agency. February 2001. p. 3.Retrieved25 December2011.
  7. ^"RSMCs and TCWCs".World Meteorological Organization. 2011.Retrieved25 December2011.
  8. ^ab"Cyclone Hits India's Andaman Islands". New Delhi, India. Xinhua General News Service. 6 November 1989.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  9. ^"Cyclones, storm surges, floods, landslides"(PDF).Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. September 2011. p. 9. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 26 April 2012.Retrieved17 December2011.
  10. ^abcS. Raghavan & S. Rajesh (May 2003)."Trends in Tropical Cyclone Impact: A Study in Andhra Pradesh, India".Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.85(5): 635–644.Bibcode:2003BAMS...84..635R.doi:10.1175/BAMS-84-5-635.
  11. ^A. Muthuchami & P. Chanavanthan (2005). "The Relation between Size of the Storm and the Size of the Eye".Predicting Mathematical Events.New Delhi, India: 104.
  12. ^abSuphat Vongvisessomjai (February 2009)."Tropical cyclone disasters in the Gulf of Thailand"(PDF).Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology.31(2).Bangkok, Thailand:213. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 April 2012.Retrieved14 December2011.
  13. ^abc"Aussies Lost As Oil Ship Capsizes".The Sun Herald.Sydney, Australia.5 November 1989. p. 5.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  14. ^abc"Unocal may scuttle Seacrest; only six survive".Oil & Gas Journal.20 November 1989. p. 43.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  15. ^"Divers Search Ship".The Washington Post.5 November 1989. p. A39.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  16. ^Thomas Perry (6 November 1989). "4 Survivors Rescued From Capsized Oil Ship In Gulf Of Thailand".The Globe and Mail.Canada.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  17. ^"250 feared killed by Typhoon Gay".The Independent.London. 6 November 1989. p. 10.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  18. ^Neale Prior & Malcolm Brown (6 November 1989). "Hope Fades for Missing Drillers".The Sydney Morning Herald.Sydney, Australia. p. 6.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  19. ^Neil Kelly (6 November 1989). "Typhoon in Thailand claims 250 victims".The Times.London, England.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  20. ^abcdefVipa Rungdilokroajn (February 1990).Natural Disasters in Thailand(PDF)(Report). Bangkok, Thailand: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 26 April 2012.Retrieved16 December2011.
  21. ^"Captain stayed to fight storm".Hobart Mercury.Reuters. 8 November 1989.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  22. ^Roth, David M. (3 January 2023)."Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima".Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data.United States Weather Prediction Center.Retrieved6 January2023.This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  23. ^abc"Thailand Typhoon Gay Nov 1989 UNDRO Information Report 1–4".United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs.ReliefWeb. 21 November 1989.Retrieved14 December2011.
  24. ^ab"Frantic hunt for victims of Thai typhoon".Hobart Mercury.Bangkok, Thailand. Agence France-Presse. 7 November 1989.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  25. ^ab"360 Die in Flash Floods; Thailand".The Sun Herald.Sydney, Australia. 12 November 1989. p. 9.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  26. ^"Typhoon Brings Mayhem".Sydney Morning Herald.Bangkok, Thailand. Associated Press. 6 November 1989. p. 14.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  27. ^abKriangsak Charanyanond (1996)."Multi-Purpose Buildings for Disaster Situations in Thailand"(PDF).United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 October 2013.Retrieved2 April2012.
  28. ^abManu Omakupt (August 1992)."Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Renewable Resources Damaged by Typhoon 'Gay': Chumphon Province"(PDF).Thailand: International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.Retrieved16 December2011.
  29. ^"Thailand Country Report".Asian Disaster Reduction Center. 1998.Retrieved15 December2011.
  30. ^"Rage of typhoon victims".Hobart Mercury.Bangkok, Thailand. Agence France-Presse. 9 November 1989.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  31. ^Absornsuda Siripong; Wish Siripong & Takashige Sugimoto (1997)."Landuse changes at Surat Thani, Southern Thailand from 1973 to 1993".Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Science, Department of Marine Science.Retrieved2 April2012.
  32. ^"Typhoon's toll: some 200 dead, 20,000 homeless".The Vindicator.United Press International. 9 November 1989. p. 36.Retrieved17 December2011.
  33. ^"Typhoon Threatens Crowded Coast of India".Los Angeles Times.Bangkok, Thailand. United Press International. 9 November 1989.Retrieved15 December2011.
  34. ^Paul Wedel (8 November 1989). "Typhoon Gay heads toward India". Bangkok, Thailand. United Press International.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  35. ^"Weather World: India hit by 200mph winds".The Guardian.London, England. 14 November 1989.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  36. ^A. D. Rao (November 2006)."On recent developments in storm surge inundation modelling"(PDF).Centre for Atmospheric Sciences. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 12 May 2013.Retrieved17 December2011.
  37. ^A. Abraham; P. Harikrishna; S. Gomathinayagam; N. Lakshmanan (September 2005). "Failure investigation of microwave towers during cyclones – A case study".Journal of Structural Engineering.32(3): 147–157.
  38. ^"Typhoon Death Toll Rises; 500 Missing Off Thailand Coast".Los Angeles Times.Los Angeles, California. Reuters. 11 November 1989.Retrieved15 December2011.
  39. ^ab"Case No.E5/3311/2009".Orders of Joint Collector. 12 December 2009. Archived fromthe original(.DOC)on 23 April 2012.Retrieved17 December2011.
  40. ^"Cyclone Kills 25". New Delhi, India. Associated Press. 9 November 1989.– via Lexis Nexis(subscription required)
  41. ^"Historical records of Severe Cyclones which formed in the Bay of Bengal and made landfall at the eastern coast of India during the period from 1970–1999".India Meteorological Department. 1999. Archived fromthe originalon 25 September 2014.Retrieved17 December2011.
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