Typhoon Agnes (1984)

{{Infobox weather event

| name = Typhoon Agnes (Undang)

| image = Agnes Nov 4 1984 0700Z.png

| caption = Agnes at peak intensity early on November 4

| formed = October 30, 1984

| dissipated = November 9, 1984

}}{{Infobox weather event/JMA

| winds = 105

| pressure = 925

}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC

| winds = 120

| pressure = 925

| basin = WPac

}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects

| year = 1984

| fatalities = 1,029 total

| missing = 273

| damage = 90700000

| areas = {{hlist|Philippines|Vietnam}}

}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer

| season = 1984 Pacific typhoon season

}}

Typhoon Agnes, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Undang, was the fourth final tropical cyclone to affect the Philippines during the 1984 Pacific typhoon season. An area of disturbed weather developed near the equator and the Caroline Islands on October 28. Following an increase in organization, the cyclone was designated a tropical storm on October 31. After tracking northwest initially, Agnes turned west-northwest the next day, a course that the system would maintain for the rest of its lifetime. Agnes intensified into a typhoon on November 2, and on November 4, attained peak intensity. The storm then made landfall on Samar Island, part of the Philippines, at that intensity. The storm weakened over land, but re-intensified over the South China Sea; Agnes obtained a secondary peak intensity on November 6. The next day, Typhoon Agnes moved ashore Vietnam while still at typhoon intensity. The storm rapidly deteriorated over land and dissipated by November 8 over Thailand.

Typhoon Agnes was the final of a series of tropical cyclones to affect the Philippines that season, following June, Ike, and Warren. Agnes brought widespread damage to several provinces across the central section of the archipelago. In the Iloilo province, 230 people were killed and four others were injured. Provincewide, a total of 21 homes were flattened, resulting in 1,326 homeless people. Damage in the province amounted to at least $5 million. Approximately 20% of the rice crop was destroyed in Iloilo. In the Capiz province, 265 people died and property damage amounted $25 million (1984 USD). Around 80% of houses in Roxas, located in Capiz, were damaged and 100 people were killed. Throughout Panay Island, four hundred forty-eight fatalities were reported, at least eight people were injured, five bridges were destroyed, and thirty-five schools were demolished. A total of 4,014 homes were destroyed; consequently, over 24,000 people lost their homes. Across the Philippines, 895 people died due to Agnes, with 272 people listed missing and 2,526 others wounded. A total of 491,968 people were evacuated to shelter in 27 provinces. More than 200,000 homes were destroyed while 163,056 other dwellings were damaged. Damage in the country totaled $90.7 million, with $19.1 million from crops and $56.9 million from public infrastructure.

In Vietnam, the typhoon severely affected the rice harvest and winter crop cultivation. The Bình Định Province suffered the brunt of the typhoon, where 134 people died and 289 sustained injuries. There, 400 schools and 230 nurseries were flattened. Throughout the country, the storm destroyed {{convert|271,000|ha|acre|abbr=off}} of farmland.

Meteorological history

Typhoon Agnes originated from an isolated area of convection located near the equator on October 28. Satellite imagery indicated a possible low pressure area near 149° E. Although the disturbance was not attached to the monsoon trough, an upper-level anticyclone became situated aloft, providing the system with strong ventilation.{{cite report|title=Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1984|publisher=United States Navy, United States Air Force|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1984atcr.pdf|author2=Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|access-date=May 29, 2017|year=1987|archive-date=September 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925075500/https://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1984atcr.pdf|url-status=dead}} Midday on October 30, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started tracking the system,{{cite report|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1984/1984s-bwp/bwp271984.txt|title=Typhoon 27W Best Track|date=December 17, 2002|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|access-date=May 29, 2017|format=TXT|archive-date=January 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126232604/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1984/1984s-bwp/bwp271984.txt|url-status=dead}} with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgrading the system to a tropical depression on the same day.{{#tag:ref|The Japan Meteorological Agency is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the western Pacific Ocean.{{cite web|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|title=Annual Report on Activities of the RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center 2000|date=February 2001|access-date=May 29, 2017|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/AnnualReport/2000/Text/Text2000.pdf|page=3}}|group="nb"}}{{cite report|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|date=October 10, 1992|title=RSMC Best Track Data – 1980–1989|access-date=May 25, 2017|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/Besttracks/bst8089.txt|format=.TXT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205202709/http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/Besttracks/bst8089.txt|archive-date=December 5, 2014|url-status=dead}} Late on October 31, shower activity increased drastically in both coverage and organization as the disturbance tracked northwest. Early the next day, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert. Shortly thereafter, a Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigated the system and found winds of {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5|order=flip}}; these winds were significantly higher than intensity estimates from the Dvorak technique. At 06:00 UTC on November 1, the JTWC issued its first warning on the system, upgrading it to a tropical storm and naming it Agnes. The JMA also classified Agnes as a tropical storm at this time.{{#tag:ref|Wind estimates from the JMA and most other basins throughout the world are sustained over 10 minutes, while estimates from the United States-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center are sustained over 1 minute. 10-minute winds are about 1.14 times the amount of 1-minute winds.{{cite book|author=Christopher W Landsea|author2=Hurricane Research Division|title=Frequently Asked Questions|chapter=Subject: D4) What does "maximum sustained wind" mean? How does it relate to gusts in tropical cyclones?|access-date=May 29, 2017|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E7.html|date=April 26, 2004}}|group="nb"}}{{cite report|author1=Kenneth R. Knapp|author2=Michael C. Kruk|author3=David H. Levinson|author4=Howard J. Diamond|author5=Charles J. Neumann|year=2010|work=The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data|title=1984 Agnes (1984302N00149)|publisher=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|access-date=May 29, 2017|url=http://www.atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_current/browse-ibtracs/index.php?name=v03r09-1984302N00149|archive-date=July 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731070653/http://www.atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_current/browse-ibtracs/index.php?name=v03r09-1984302N00149|url-status=dead}}

Although Agnes initially continued to track northwest, passing through the Caroline Islands,{{cite report|author1=Hong Kong Observatory|author-link=Hong Kong Observatory|title=Meteorological Results: 1984|chapter=Part III – Tropical Cyclone Summaries|journal=Meteorological Results|year=1985|url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc1984.pdf|access-date=May 29, 2017|pages=26–29|publisher=Hong Kong Observatory}} by the evening of November 1, Agnes moved northward enough to feel the effects of a subtropical ridge anchored to its north, causing the storm to turn west-northwest. Despite its asymmetric structure, the JTWC classified Agnes as a typhoon midday on November 2. The storm began to rapidly intensify on November 3, with the JMA upping Agnes to a severe tropical storm at 00:00 UTC, and to a typhoon six hours later. Meanwhile, the JTWC elevated the intensity to {{convert|115|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5|order=flip}}, which would make it a Category 3 hurricane on the United States–based Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS). That afternoon, however, the typhoon began to level off in strength. Around this time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also monitored the storm and assigned it with the local name Undang.{{cite report|url=http://www.typhoon2000.ph/stormstats/1963-1988_PTC.txt|title=PAGASA Tropical Cyclone Names 1963–1988|first1=Michael V.|format=TXT|last1=Padua|publisher=Typhoon 2000|access-date=May 25, 2017|date=November 6, 2008|archive-date=August 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827033524/http://www.typhoon2000.ph/stormstats/1963-1988_PTC.txt|url-status=dead}} After developing a small {{convert|10|km|mi|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide eye, at 18:00 UTC on November 4, the JTWC increased the winds to {{convert|140|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5|order=flip}}, equal to Category 4 intensity on the SSHWS, its peak intensity. At the same time, the JMA estimated peak intensity of {{convert|120|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5|order=flip}} and a minimum barometric pressure of {{convert|925|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}}.

Shortly after attaining maximum intensity, the typhoon continued west-northwest and made landfall {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Borongan on Samar Island. Land interaction resulted in a weakening trend as it crossed the archipelago; however, due to its brisk forward motion, the JTWC reported that Agnes was still a typhoon when it emerged into the South China Sea, though the JMA estimated it weakened into a severe tropical storm over land. Over water, Agnes re-intensified, with the JMA designating it a typhoon again on the morning of November 6. Later that day, the agency estimated the storm attained its secondary peak intensity of {{convert|85|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5|order=flip}}. Meanwhile, the JTWC estimated that the storm regained winds of {{convert|115|mph|km/h|abbr=on|order=flip|round=5}}, an intensity that the storm would maintain until Agnes made its second landfall on November 7 {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Qui Nhơn in Vietnam. Rapid weakening occurred over land, and at 00:00 UTC on November 8, the JTWC ceased following Agnes as it had tracked into Thailand. Thirty hours later, the JMA followed suit.

Impact

File:Agnes1984110406GMS3VS.jpg

= Philippines =

Philippine Airlines suspended all southbound flights from Manila during the storm's passage, but by November 5, all flights resumed except those to Tacloban, where the airport sustained severe damage.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Agnes hits Philippines, swirls out to sea|agency=United Press International|date=November 5, 1984}} In the Iloilo province, several rivers overflowed their banks, resulting in {{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} deep water along streets. A total of two hundred thirty people were killed,{{cite news|title=International News|agency=Associated Press|date=November 7, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} including three from drownings, with four others injured. There, 21 homes were destroyed while 1,326 people were listed as homeless.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Agnes kills 3 in Philippines|agency=United Press International|date=November 5, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} Damage in the province was at least $5 million.{{cite news|title=Philippine typhoon claims 145 victims|agency=Reuters|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=November 7, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} Offshore, 32 fisherman were feared dead. Approximately 20% of the rice crop was destroyed, with the worst effects coming along the Jaro river. Nearby, in the town of Pilar, 38 people died.{{cite news|last1=Vicoy|first1=Willy|title=Typhoon Agnes leaves 199 dead|agency=United Press International|date=November 6, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} In the neighboring Aklan province, 24 people died.

Most of Roxas, population 100,000, was underwater due to the storm. Around 80% of houses there were damaged, 40–50% homes were destroyed,{{cite news|title=International News|agency=Associated Press|date=November 6, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} and 100 people were killed. Throughout the surrounding Capiz province, 265 people were killed and many towns were underwater.{{cite news|title=Typhoon Kills At Least 155 People in Central Philippines|agency=Associated Press|date=November 6, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} In that province and Illoilo, damage totaled $40 million, with property damage in just Capiz amounting to $25 million.{{cite news|title=International News|agency=Associated Press|date=November 8, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} Throughout Panay Island, 448 fatalities were reported{{cite news|title=International News|agency=United Press International|date=November 10, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} and at least eight people were injured. Island-wide, the storm destroyed five bridges and thirty-five schools. It also wrecked dozens of fishing boats, and uprooted trees. There, 4,014 homes were demolished, resulting in more than 24,000 individuals losing their homes.{{cite news|last1=Vicoy|first1=Willy|title=International News|agency=United Press International|date=November 6, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} Elsewhere, 41 people were killed in Leyte Island and Samar Island. In the former, two ships capsized that resulted in two drownings and property damage totaled $40 million.{{cite news|title=Death toll from typhoon in Philippines tops 300|agency=Reuters|publisher=Globe and Mail|date=November 8, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} In the Antique province, authorities reported five deaths. In the Romblon province, five casualties occurred. On Cebu Island, six people died.{{cite news|title=Death Toll from Typhoon Agnes Jumps to 343|agency=Associated Press|date=November 7, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} Within the vicinity of the island nation, 38 children died aboard a ferry boat after it sank, though the adults on the boat swam to safety.{{cite news|title=International News|agency=United Press International|date=November 8, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}

Nationwide, 895 people perished, with 272 people reported missing and 2,526 others hurt.{{cite report|url=http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/miso/typhoons&range=80,20|title=Destructive Typhoons 1970–2003|date=November 9, 2004|publisher=National Disaster Coordinating Council|access-date=May 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041109181317/http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=%2Fmiso%2Ftyphoons&range=80%2C20|archive-date=November 9, 2004|url-status=dead}} Eighteen fishing boats sunk in offshore waters. Based on reports from the Philippines Welfare Ministry, 491,968 people were evacuated to shelter in 27 provinces, most of whom were homeless.{{cite news|title=Philippines typhoon toll may exceed 1,000|agency=United Press International|date=November 8, 1984}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}} In all, 201,014 homes were destroyed, which led to roughly 600,000 people losing their homes. Furthermore, 163,056 homes were damaged. Damage was estimated at $90.7 million,{{#tag:ref|All Philippine currencies are converted to United States Dollars using [http://www.measuringworth.com/datasets/exchangeglobal/result.php?year_source=1984&year_result=1984&countryE Philippines Measuring worth] with an exchange rate of the year 1984.|group=nb}} with $19.1 million from crops, $56.9 million from public infrastructure, and $14.8 million from private infrastructure.{{cite report|url=http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/miso/typhoons&cmd=list&range=80,20&cmd=all&Id=89|title=Destructive Typhoons 1970–2003|date=November 9, 2004|publisher=National Disaster Coordinating Council|access-date=May 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041126011214/http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=%2Fmiso%2Ftyphoons&cmd=list&range=80%2C20&cmd=all&Id=89|archive-date=November 26, 2004|url-status=dead}} Agnes marked the final of several tropical cyclones to hit the nation that season, after June,{{cite report|url=http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/miso/typhoons&cmd=list&range=80,20&cmd=all&Id=86|title=Destructive Typhoons 1970–2003|date=November 9, 2004|publisher=National Disaster Coordinating Council|access-date=May 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041126011214/http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=%2Fmiso%2Ftyphoons&cmd=list&range=80%2C20&cmd=all&Id=86|archive-date=November 26, 2004|url-status=dead}} Ike,{{cite report|url=http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/miso/typhoons&cmd=list&range=80,20&cmd=all&Id=87|title=Destructive Typhoons 1970–2003|date=November 9, 2004|publisher=National Disaster Coordinating Council|access-date=May 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041126011214/http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=%2Fmiso%2Ftyphoons&cmd=list&range=80%2C20&cmd=all&Id=87|archive-date=November 26, 2004|url-status=dead}} and Warren.{{cite report|url=http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/miso/typhoons&cmd=list&range=80,20&cmd=all&Id=88|title=Destructive Typhoons 1970–2003|date=November 9, 2004|publisher=National Disaster Coordinating Council|access-date=May 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041126011214/http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=%2Fmiso%2Ftyphoons&cmd=list&range=80%2C20&cmd=all&Id=88|archive-date=November 26, 2004|url-status=dead}} The United Press International noted it was the first time in living memory that Philippines was deluged with three catastrophic storms.

= Vietnam =

When Typhoon Agnes made landfall on Vietnam three days after it struck the Philippines, the typhoon dropped torrential rains that caused flooding, which severely affected the rice harvest and winter crop cultivation. The Bình Định Province was the worst affected by the typhoon, where 134 people were killed and 289 others were wounded. Some 400 schools and 230 nurseries were demolished. Nearly {{convert|200,000|ha|acre|abbr=on|round=5}} of rice were flooded. A total of {{convert|6,315|ha|acre|abbr=on|round=5}} of maize were damaged while {{convert|8,652|ha|acre|abbr=on|round=5}} of sweet potatoes were flooded. Overall, the storm destroyed {{convert|271,000|ha|acre|abbr=on|round=5}} of farmland. Over 600,000 people were directly affected by Agnes.{{cite report|publisher=United States Agency for International Development|date=August 1993|access-date=May 29, 2017|title=Disaster History: Significant Data on Major Disasters Worldwide, 1900–Present|url=http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABP986.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718110440/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABP986.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2011|page=221}}

Aftermath

= Philippines =

President Ferdinand Marcos declared a state of emergency for the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Leyte, and eastern Samar. This area also covered the cities of Roxas and Tacloban. The Philippines Ministry of Health provided aid to 170,000 families. Immediately following Agnes, the Government of the Philippines dispatched a C-130 aircraft carrying relief supplies to the affected areas, including {{convert|40,000|lbs|kg|abbr=on}} of food and medicine to Roxas, where thousands of residents had gone days without eating. There, five helicopters were dispatched to rescue victims, many of whom climbed to rooftops for safety.{{cite news|title=International News|agency=United Press International|date=November 7, 1984}} The Philippines Navy sent a "floating hospital" to treat villagers in remote coastal areas.{{cite news|title=Relief workers help half million typhoon victims|agency=United Press International|date=November 7, 1984}} The Philippines Air Force provided {{convert|163|ST|MT|abbr=on}} of food for 30,000 people,{{cite news|title=Reports Typhoon Death Toll At 425 And 204 Missing; 350,000 Homeless|agency=Associated Press|date=November 8, 1984}} medicine and clothing.{{cite news|title=Death Toll In Philippines Typhoon At 515, Relief Work Continues|agency=Associated Press|date=November 10, 1984}}

In addition to national aid, various countries and human rights related organizations provided varying forms of assistance. The United States provided $25,000 in cash plus an additional $40,000 to help school re-construction and $540,000 to help re-build destroyed homes. Norway donated almost $80,000. The United Nations Development Programme awarded $30,000. UNICEF granted $50,000 worth of medicine. The Catholic Relief Services donated $65,000, with the intended use for shelter, food, and medicine. CARE also contributed $12,300 in order to repair a water tank and schools.{{cite report|work=United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs|publisher=ReliefWeb|date=December 21, 1984|access-date=May 29, 2017|title=Philippines Typhoon Nov 1984 UNDRO Information Reports 1 – 6|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-typhoon-nov-1984-undro-information-reports-1-6}}

= Vietnam =

The Vietnamese government agreed to provide {{convert|20,000|ST|MT|abbr=on|round=5}} of rice, although asked for foreign assistance to provide an additional {{convert|30,800|ST|MT|abbr=on|round=5}} of rice. Australia alone added {{convert|1,000|ST|MT|abbr=on|round=5}} of rice. The United States agreed to provide $150,000 worth of seeds, $45,000 worth of pesticides, and $25,000 in drugs. Bulgaria awarded $33,5000 worth of fabrics, medicines, and food. The Franco-Vietnam Friendship Association contributed a little more than $5,000 in cash. In addition, the League of Red Cross Societies provided {{convert|200|ST|MT|abbr=on|round=5}} of milk powder and $112,360 in cash contributions. Oxfam provided nearly $57,000 in cash. The Polish Red Cross added around $2,200 worth of medicine. The Russian Red Cross Society contributed $275,862 worth of goods. The now-defunct Yugoslavia Red Cross granted more than $23,000 in cash. The Swedish Red Cross awarded over $5,000 in cash.{{cite report|work=United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs|publisher=ReliefWeb|date=February 28, 1985|access-date=May 29, 2017|title=Viet Nam Typhoon Nine (Agnes) Dec 1984 UNDRO Situation Reports 1–4|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/viet-nam-typhoon-nine-agnes-dec-1984-undro-situation-reports-1-4}}

Within the United Nations system, the United Nations Development Programme provided $30,000 in cash. The World Food Programme gave {{convert|10,000|ST|MT|abbr=on|round=5}} of cereal, worth $4.6 million. The World Health Organization provided three emergency health kits and 30,000 volunteers for a three-month period.