Typhoon Saomai

Typhoon Saomai (designated Typhoon Juan by PAGASA and Super Typhoon Saomai by the JTWC) was a powerful typhoon that affected areas of Taiwan and eastern China. It was the eighth tropical storm, fifth typhoon, and third super typhoon of the 2006 Pacific typhoon season recognized by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Saomai was the seventh tropical storm and fifth typhoon of the season. The name "Saomai" was submitted by Vietnam, and is the Vietnamese word for "morning star", a reference to the planet Venus.

The typhoon brought heavy rain and wind to areas of the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, Taiwan, and eastern China, and was responsible for at least 106 deaths and $1.5 billion (2006 USD) in damage. Saomai affected many of the same areas affected by Tropical Storm Bilis a month earlier, and Chinese forecasters described it as the most powerful typhoon to strike China since 1956.



Storm history

A tropical disturbance formed east of Chuuk on July 31 and gradually increased in organization over the next several days as it moved northwestward. By August 4, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system, and later that day it was designated a tropical depression by both the JTWC and the Japan Meteorological Agency. The depression strengthened into a tropical storm on August 5, and the JMA designated it as Tropical Storm Saomai.

Saomai continued moving toward the northwest and passed over the Mariana Islands on August 6 while continuing to strengthen,[4] and was upgraded to a severe tropical storm by the JMA later that day. The storm then began organizing and intensifying more rapidly, becoming a typhoon early on August 7. Saomai moved into the area of responsibility of PAGASA on August 8, and was designated Typhoon Juan. Rapid intensification continued, and Saomai reached its peak intensity of 95 knots (175 km/h, 110 mph) on August 9.

After passing to the south of Okinawa, Saomai turned westward and brushed the northern coast of Taiwan early on August 10, before making landfall in Zhejiang, China later that day. Rapid weakening ensued as the typhoon moved further inland, and Saomai weakened into a tropical depression on August 11, dissipating later that day.


Preparations

The United States National Weather Service issued a tropical storm warning for Guam as Tropical Storm Saomai approached the island on August 6. Military bases in northern Guam entered Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 1, while the rest of the island was placed under Condition of Readiness 2. Several bases were temporarily closed.

The Taiwanese Central Weather Bureau issued land and marine typhoon warnings for areas of northern Taiwan in anticipation of Saomai's outer bands. The warnings had been upgraded from lesser warnings issued for Tropical Storm Bopha, which made landfall in southern Taiwan the day before.

In mainland China, 990,000 people in Zhejiang and 569,000 people in Fujian were evacuated to shelters prior to Saomai's landfall. Over 20,000 soldiers and police were mobilized to aid in cleanup and rescue efforts.


Impact


Mariana Islands

While still a tropical storm, Saomai passed over Guam, bringing rain and wind to the island, but no damage or deaths were reported.


Philippines

As with Tropical Storm Bilis a month earlier, Saomai's outer rainbands affected areas of the Philippines. Over 400 homes were destroyed by storm surge, and two people were killed. At least seven people were reported missing.


Taiwan

The core of the typhoon passed to the north of Taiwan, but the island still experienced heavy rain and wind that disrupted traffic and cancelled flights to and from Taipei, but no serious damage or casualties were reported.


People's Republic of China

The greatest loss of life occurred in Zhejiang, where Saomai made landfall. The typhoon was responsible for at least 81 deaths in the province, mostly in Wenzhou, the provincial capital. Over 18,000 homes were destroyed, and major highways in the province were flooded out. Saomai was responsible for 4.9 billion yuan in damage in Zhejiang.

Seventeen people were killed in the neighboring province of Fujian. Strong winds and flooding destroyed 37,000 houses and flooded 38,000 hectares (94,000 acres) of farmland, and economic damage amounted to 6.3 billion yuan.

Another two people were killed in Jiangxi. One person was washed away in floodwaters while inspecting damage, while another person was killed when a damaged building collapsed. Six reservoirs in the province were destroyed, and 348 million yuan in damage was reported.