Typhoon Prapiroon (2000)

Sedimentation off the eastern coast of China caused by Typhoon Prapiroon

The Taiwanese Central Weather Bureau issued warnings for ships in the vicinity of Taiwan's northern and eastern shores on August 28 as Prapiroon approached the island.[4] Forecasts anticipated the tropical cyclone to track northeast of the island.[5] Schools in Yilan and Keelung were temporarily closed on August 29 due to the storm.[6] In Chongming Island near Shanghai, evacuation procedures were initiated,[7] resulting in the displacement of approximately 3,000 people.[8] Both Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, which flowed nearby, were predicted to reach their second highest crests in recorded history as a result of the nearby Prapiroon.[7] More than 100 flights departing or arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport were either delayed or cancelled.[9] Nearby ships were brought into temporary confinement in the Port of Shanghai.[8]

The outer rainbands of Prapiroon disrupted traffic and caused landslides in Taiwan,[10] though effects were mostly of minimal extent.[11][8] Storm surge associated with the typhoon coincided with the astronomical high tide along the coast of Mainland China, inundating large swaths of farmland and destroying thousands of homes.[10] Floodwaters breached dykes in Shanghai's Baoshan and Chongming Island.[12] Additional dyke breaching in several other districts in Shanghai forced the evacuation of 10,000 people.[8] The provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang were the worst affected.[10] In northern Jiangsu, four people were killed and 80 others were injured. The same region experienced severe flooding, resulting in the submerging of 364,000 hectares (900,000 acres) of farmland and the destruction of over 7,500 homes. In Xiangshui County, 821 mm (32.3 in) of rain was reported, setting a county record for most observed precipitation from a single rain event.[1] The floods there prompted the evacuation of 13,800 people. The prefecture government in Yancheng allocated 400 soldiers and militiamen, along with 30,000 life jackets and various supplies, in order to combat the flood. Flood-relief channels in Shiliang Reservoir were opened in order to relieve the high water levels.[13] In total, Prapiroon was responsible for the deaths of 10 people across China.[3]

As a tropical storm, Prapiroon brought strong winds and rain to Okinawa Prefecture and the rest of the Ryukyu Islands.[1] Precipitation totals peaked at 190 mm (7.5 in) in Ohara, though daily rainfall totals peaked at 94 mm (3.7 in) on Ishigaki Island. Due to the effects of the nearby tropical cyclone, several warnings were issued for the prefecture, and sea and air transportation was suspended. On Ishigaki, Prapiroon was particularly damaging to crops, including sugarcane, papaya, and banana. Around 12.3 km² (4.7 sq mi) of farmland was reportedly damaged, and total costs of agricultural damage reached JP¥25.8 million (US$239 thousand). In addition to crops, Prapiroon also caused adverse effects to several schools, including the shattering of several windows at a junior high school.[14] More widespread and severe damage occurred in Okinawa's Miyako District, where damage to agriculture amounted to JP¥105 million (US$974 thousand). Power outages were also widespread, impacting 400 households. Telecommunications were also disrupted as a result.[15]

Outside of its claims in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan remained largely unaffected by Prapiroon until the system passed over Honshu as an extratropical cyclone. Similar to its affects in the Ryukyu Islands, the storm mainly caused heavy rain, with rainfall totals peaking nationally in Nakagoya, Miyazaki Prefecture, where a station measured 253 mm (10.0 in) of precipitation.[16] In Kyoto Prefecture, the rainfall resulted in the inundation of 39 buildings and the flooding of roads.[17] Kōchi Prefecture, located further northeast, experienced similar impacts, in addition to the occurrence of six landslides. Accrued damage amounted to JP¥419 million (US$3.89 million).[18] Strong waves off of Niigata Prefecture damaged 22 vessels and submerged coastal regions.[19] Particularly impacted was Hokkaido, which was affected by high surf and heavy rains, delaying domestic flights and causing complications for rail service.[20] Automobile transportation was also impacted as heavy rains rendered roads impassable.[21] Flooding occurred after rivers began to overflow their banks, including in Horokanai.[22] Damage to agriculture in Hokkaido reached JP¥35.7 million (US$331 thousand).[22][23][24]