Typhoon Gay

The most powerful storm to affect the Gulf of Thailand in more than thirty-five years, Gay produced 6–11 m (20–36 ft) swells which 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 Corporation oil drilling ship Seacrest.[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 the Seacrest totaled $40 million.[18] Another 20 cargo and fishing ships sank during the storm, resulting in 140 fatalities.[19]

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 of Bangkok; 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 by deforestation,[20] flash flooding triggered 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 the Bangkok 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 and Tha Sae demonstrated 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 Minister Chatichai Choonhavan delayed 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 to Prachuap Khiri Khan by 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/m² of pressure from winds. In the years following the typhoon, studies determined how best to rebuild: reinforced concrete structures which can last fifty years.[27]

After crossing the Malay Peninsula, Gay moved through the Andaman Islands on 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) battered North Andaman Island, causing two structures to collapse.[8] A few days before the cyclone made landfall, officials in Andhra Pradesh began evacuating roughly 50,000 residents along the coast and stockpiled relief goods. Some people were forced to leave vulnerable locations in the Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts.[32][33] Local meteorologists warned that the storm was comparable to a cyclone in 1977 that 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, a storm surge of 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 of Kavali, a 91 m (299 ft) tall, steel lattice microwave tower collapsed 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 near Machilipatnam after 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]