Typhoon Orchid (1980)

{{storm path|Orchid 1980 track.png}}An area of disturbance formed near east of Guam. The system had indicated signs of tropical cyclone formation and when reconnaissance aircraft investigated the system, they were unable to detect any signs of deep convection. According to sypnotic data, the system indicated that gale-force winds had existed. On September 1, the storm intensified into Tropical Depression 16W. On September 6, the now tropical depression had intensified into Tropical Storm Orchid.{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Typhoon 198013 (ORCHID) - General Information (Pressure and Track Charts)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/summary/wnp/s/198013.html.en|access-date=March 19, 2021|publisher=Agora}}

The first tropical storm warning for Orchid was issued on September 7 at 02:00 UTC.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5O1arwjEFwUC&q=typhoon+orchid+1980|title=Climatological Data: National summary|date=1980|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data Service, National Climatic Center|language=en}} Orchid soon entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and had attained the name Toyang on September 8. Orchid had also attained typhoon status the same day. Orchid exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on September 10.{{Cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Typhoon 198013 (ORCHID) - Disaster Information|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/dsummary.pl?id=198013&basin=wnp&lang=en|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Agora}}

On the 9th of September, Typhoon Orchid sank one of the largest British ships, the MV Derbyshire, which went down with 42 crew, as well as 2 crewman's wives, 230 miles (370 km) from Okinawa.{{cite web|date=9 September 2020|title=RMT mourns loss of crew and safety rights on 40th anniversary of MV Derbyshire tragedy|url=https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-mourns-loss-of-crew-and-safety-rights-on-40th9920/|access-date=14 October 2020|publisher=RMT}} Orchid soon made course towards the island of Kyushu. It headed north within a current and helped Orchid make landfall in Kyushu on September 10.

After making landfall, Orchid fully transformed into its extratropical stage on September 11. It continued north into Primorsky Krai and into Vladivostok, but caused no known damage. Orchid dissipated 5 days later, on September 16.

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Typhoon Orchid was the ninth tropical cyclone to strike Japan in the 1980 typhoon season. The storm killed six people in Kyushu and triggered devastating landslides on the country's main island of Honshu. The fruit and vegetable crops have sustained heavy damage from this.{{Cite news|date=1991-10-20|title=EARTHWEEK: A DIARY OF THE PLANET|pages=21|work=Canberra Times|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134161292|access-date=2021-03-20}} More than 15,000 people were affected due to the devastating landslides and wind gusts. 400 families had no homes during the time.{{Cite news|date=1980-09-12|title=IN BRIEF|pages=5|work=Canberra Times|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article125621520|access-date=2021-03-20}}

{{main|MV Derbyshire}}

The loss of MV Derbyshire was devastating for Britain, since the 91,000 ton carrier was the largest of its time and had resulted in the deaths of all 44 people on board.{{Cite web|date=2001-08-13|title=Derbyshire Sinking|url=http://www.north-country.co.uk/Derbyshire.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010813033209/http://www.north-country.co.uk/Derbyshire.htm|archive-date=August 13, 2001|access-date=2021-03-20}} The ship was headed for Kawasaki with [https://www.mdpi.com/topics/iron%20concentrate Iron Ore Concentrate]{{cite book |last1=Department of Environment and Transport DETR |first1=Government of the United Kingdom |title=REPORT OF THE RE-OPENED FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE LOSS OF THE M/V DERBYSHIRE |publisher=HMSO |url=https://maritimesafetyinnovationlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/UK-Derbyshire-Sinking-September-1980.pdf |access-date=6 February 2025}} from Sept-Îles, Canada on July 11, but never arrived.{{Cite web|date=2017-04-04|title=Derbyshire|url=https://shipwrecklog.com/log/history/derbyshire/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Shipwreck Log|language=en-US}} Senior Assistant General Secretary Steve Hedley said to RMT:

“RMT pay tribute to the forty-two seafarers and two passengers who lost their lives when the MV Derbyshire was overwhelmed by Typhoon Orchid south of Japan on this day in 1980. Members of the National Union of Seaman, many from the Derbyshire’s home city of Liverpool were amongst those lost and this remains the largest UK flagged ship lost during peacetime."

Ocean Container, which was being towed by tug ship Salvadore had its tug line separated due to tough waves just east of Shikoku, near Cape Shio. The Bea Urivage, which carried 240,000 tons of crude oil had been anchored because of rippling waves. Luckily, the ship received only minor damage. The Sea Hawk and the He Tian collided while anchored at Mutsure Island. The captain had died and the Sea Hawk sank, but everyone on both ships was rescued. The He Tian had apparently drifted due to Orchid's gusty winds. The Ryojin off of Ise Bay had dragged the anchor of the ship and rammed the Hyundai{{ref|reference_name_A|a}}, but caused only minor damage.{{clear}}

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones|Weather|Japan

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• 1980 Pacific typhoon season
• MV Derbyshire

• {{note|reference_name_A|a}}Not related to Hyundai Motor Company.

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20171222221633/http://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/jtwc.html Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)]
• [https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)]

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Category:1980 Pacific typhoon season