Typhoon Babe, known in Japan as Okinoerabu Typhoon (沖永良部台風, Okinoerabu Taifū), and in the Philippines as Typhoon Miling,[1] was regarded as "the worst typhoon to threaten Japan in 18 years."[2] Developing as a tropical depression on September 2, Babe initially tracked west-northwestward as it intensified. On September 5, an abrupt shift in steering currents caused the system to turn north-northwestward. Early on September 6, the system intensified into a typhoon. Over the following two days, Babe quickly intensified, ultimately attaining its peak intensity early on September 8 with winds of 240 km/h (150 mph) and a barometric pressure of 905 mbar (hPa; 26.72 inHg). Not long after reaching this strength, another shift in the steering patterns caused the typhoon to execute a prolonged counter-clockwise arc, causing it to track through the Ryukyu Islands southwest of Japan, as it interacted with a low pressure originating from the Korean Peninsula. During this time, the system gradually weakened and eventually it made landfall near Shanghai, China on September 11 as a minimal typhoon before dissipating inland the following day. Coincidentally, Typhoon Babe and Atlantic Hurricane Babe existed at the same time from September 3–9.[3]
Passing through the Ryukyu Islands as a powerful typhoon, Babe caused considerable damage in the region. More than 1,000 homes were destroyed and nearly 7,000 more were damaged or flooded. One person was killed on Amami Ōshima and 77 others were injured throughout the country. Total losses reached ¥6.1 billion (US$23 million). Offshore, over 100 vessels were affected by the storm, including a Panamanian freighter where 13 people died. In China, more than 24,000 homes were destroyed and nine people were killed.
Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Initially, forecasters anticipated Babe to maintain its westward course as it strengthened and threaten the Philippines; however, its forward motion gradually slowed as it neared the region. On September 5, an upper-level trough formed over northeastern Asia and created a weakness in the subtropical ridge, allowing Babe to turn north-northwestward. Over the following two days, the storm quickly strengthened as divergence increased ahead of the storm, with Babe attaining typhoon status early on September 6 Between 0832 UTC on September 5 and 2204 UTC on September 7, the storm's barometric pressure dropped from 988 mbar (hPa; 29.18 inHg) to 907 mbar (hPa; 26.78 inHg), approximately 1.3 mbar (hPa; 0.04 inHg) per hour. Early on September 8, Babe attained its peak intensity with winds of 240 km/h (150 mph) while situated approximately 465 km (289 mi) southeast of Ishigaki Island. This ranked it as the first and only super typhoon of the 1977 season.[2] At this time, the Japan Meteorological Agency estimated the storm to have had peak ten-minute sustained winds of 205 km/h (127 mph) and a minimum pressure of 905 mbar (hPa; 26.72 inHg).[5]
Until September 8, Babe was forecast to continue northwestward into Taiwan and later China; however, another upper-level trough moved into northeastern China and further weakened the ridge. This in turn allowed a new area of low pressure to develop over the Korean Peninsula and cause Babe to curve northeastward. While moving northeastward, Babe gradually weakened and began to undergo a Fujiwhara-like interaction with the low near Korea as that system moved southwestward. Accelerating along a counter-clockwise arc, Babe moved through the Ryukyu Islands as a weakening typhoon on September 9 before taking a steady westward course into China.[2] As the system passed through the archipelago, a pressure of 907.3 mbar (hPa; 0.089 inHg) was measured on Okinoerabujima.[1] Babe eventually made landfall near Shanghai with winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) before rapidly weakening over land.[2] The system was last noted early on September 12 over Anhui Province.[5]
Torrential rain fell across much of the Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The highest total were observed in Kōchi Prefecture, with Funato in Tsuno, Kōchi measuring 705 mm (27.8 in).[7] The small island of Okinoerabujima reportedly experienced winds in excess of 210 km/h (130 mph) for two hours as the typhoon passed by.[8] Nearly two-thirds of the homes across the island were damaged or destroyed by the storm and 73 people were injured.[9] Most of the injuries across the island were caused by collapsing buildings.[10] One person was killed on Amami Ōshima and 77 others were injured across the Amami Islands. According to Japanese police, 1,146 homes were destroyed, mainly by flooding and landslides, while 1,097 more were damaged and another 5,826 were flooded.[8] At least 14,927 people were left homeless.[11] Losses across the country amounted to ¥6.1 billion (US$23 million).[7]
About 420 km (260 mi) north-northwest of Okinawa, the Panamanian freighter May Cruiser became stranded and in danger of sinking on September 10 with its crew of 25.[12] The Japanese Maritime Safety Agency deployed five airplanes and four patrol boats to search for survivors. Additionally, ten Japanese fishing boats in the area assisted in search and rescue. By September 12, rescuers found nine sailors and thirteen bodies, while three others remained missing.[13] Elsewhere in the East China Sea, approximately 100 Japanese fishing vessels attempting to seek shelter from the storm were damaged.[2]
In China, wind gusts reportedly reached 252 km/h (157 mph), resulting in extensive damage. Around 24,000 homes were destroyed and nine people were killed.[14]
