Typhoon Brenda

Typhoon Brenda, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Bining, caused significant loss of life in the Philippines and China in May 1989.

Typhoon Brenda (Bining)
Typhoon Brenda at peak intensity, approaching southern China on May 19
Meteorological history
FormedMay 14, 1989
DissipatedMay 21, 1989
Typhoon
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds120 km/h (75 mph)
Lowest pressure970 hPa (mbar); 28.64 inHg
Category 1-equivalent typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds140 km/h (85 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities104 total
Missing40–53
Damage$2.86 million (1989 USD)
Philippine total only
IBTrACS
Part of the 1989 Pacific typhoon season

Meteorological history
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
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A tropical depression which formed in the monsoon trough on May 14 became a tropical storm on May 16 and was named Brenda. Brenda struck Samar Island, then southern Luzon in the Philippines that day. Due to the cyclone's proximity to the Philippines, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also monitored the storm and assigned it with the local name Bining.[1]

After Brenda struck the Philippines, Brenda became a typhoon and reached a peak of 85 mph (137 km/h) winds. After peaking, Brenda made landfall in southern China on May 20. Brenda weakened to a tropical depression and dissipated on the mext day.

Preparations and impact

Philippines

On May 16, storm warnings were issued for 20 provinces across the Philippines as Brenda approached the country. Multiple commercial vessels were kept at port until the storm passed.[2] At least 50 domestic Philippine Airlines flights were canceled and international flights were diverted to airports not in the path of the typhoon.[3]

Strong winds produced by Brenda caused widespread disruption from the Visayas through Luzon, downing numerous trees and power lines. Significant power disruption occurred in the Bicol Region as well as the Central Visayas. Three people were killed in Manila after a car was thrown into a bus by strong winds.[3] On May 16, during the filming of Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection, a helicopter crashed roughly 45 km (30 mi) south of Manila, killing five people and injuring four others. The crash was associated with strong winds from Brenda that made flying difficult.[4][5]

Flooding triggered by the storm prompted officials to evacuate over 5,700 people.[6]

Rough seas associated with the typhoon were responsible for several incidents across the Philippines. Two people drowned and thirteen others were reported missing after a motor launch capsized roughly 320 km (200 mi) east of Manila.[3] Off the coast of Calavite Island, 23 people went missing after the cargo vessel MV Zambales sank.[6] In Albay Province, the Corazon-II sank while berthed at the Tobaco town pier.[3] Additionally, the five-ton vessel Albert sank off the southern tip of Luzon with five crewmen. The crew reportedly drifted at sea for three days before tying a makeshift raft to a sea turtle which towed them to safety.[7]

Throughout the Philippines 13–19 people were killed by the storm while another 40–53 were reported missing.[1][6] A total of 652 homes were destroyed while another 4,392 were damaged. Losses from the storm amounted to 73 million pesos (US$2.86 million).[1]

Hong Kong

[8]

On May 20, 322.8 mm (12.71 in) of rain fell in Hong Kong, marking the second-wettest day in May on record as well as the eighth-wettest day overall.[9]

That same day in Beijing, which was in the midst of the 1989 student movement, martial law was declared. Protests in support of the Beijing movement were planned and proceeded in Hong Kong in spite of the typhoon.[10]

In the Lam Tsuen Valley, unusually heavy rains produced by the storm triggered 31 landslides.[11]

China

See also

References
  1. "Destructive Typhoons 1970-2003". National Disaster Coordinating Council. November 9, 2004. Archived from the original on November 9, 2004. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  2. "Storm Brenda Intensifies, Nears Central Philippines". Manila, Philippines: Associated Press. May 16, 1989. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  3. "South China Sea is raked by storm". Manila, Philippines: Merced Sun-Star. Associated Press. May 18, 1989. p. 38. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  4. "Movie crew didn't realize at first that fatal copter crash was for real". The Deseret News. Associated Press. May 17, 1989. p. 2. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  5. "Deaths on Movie Sets : Some fatal accidents on movie sets". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 20, 1995. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  6. "Tropical storm Brenda rips Philippine coastline". United Press International. Manila, Philippines: Lodi News-Sentenial. May 19, 1989. p. 9. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  7. "Sea turtle reportedly saves storm survivors". Manila, Philippines: Ocala Star-Banner. Associated Press. May 21, 1989. p. 4. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  8. "HKO Warnings and Signals Database". Hong Kong Observatory. August 27, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  9. Mervyn R. Peart (1991). "Storm period variation of rainfall pH: the example of Typhoon Brenda, May 1989" (PDF). Hong Kong Meteorological Society Bulletin. Hong Kong Meteorological Society; Department of Geography and Geology, University of Hong Kong. 1 (1): 10. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  10. "UPHEAVAL IN CHINA; Hong Kong Turns Out in Protest Against Its Once and Future Ruler". New York Times. May 21, 1989. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  11. Mervyn R. Peart (July 1992). "Landslides, degradation and erosion in Hong Kong" (PDF). Department of Geography and Geology, University of Hong Kong. International Association of Hydrological Sciences. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
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