Typhoon Viola (1969)

Typhoon Viola (Elang)

Viola nearing peak intensity on July 26, with the system starting to batter the Northern Luzon that day.
Meteorological history
Formed	July 22, 1969
Dissipated	July 31, 1969
Unknown-strength storm
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Lowest pressure	900 hPa (mbar); 26.58 inHg
Category 4-equivalent super typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	240 km/h (150 mph)
Overall effects
Fatalities	10,039 estimated
Missing	15
Damage	Unknown
Areas affected	Caroline Islands, Yap, Philippines, Taiwan, South China
Part of the 1969 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Viola, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Elang and in Mainland China as the Niutianyang Wind Disaster, was a destructive and deadly tropical cyclone that is estimated to have killed over 10,000 individuals in Guangdong, another 20 in the Philippine archipelago and 11 in Taiwan during mid to late July 1969. The sixth recorded system, fourth typhoon, and the first super typhoon of the 1969 Pacific typhoon season, the system was first noted on July 20 as an area of convection to the south of Guam. It slowly organized, becoming a tropical depression two days later before strengthening to a tropical storm on that day. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center gave the name Viola to the intensifying system. It then brushed some islands, reefs, and shoals of the Caroline Islands as it moved to the northwest. A trough to its south turned the system to the north-northwest before intensifying to a severe tropical storm as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, assigning the name Elang by the PAGASA.

Shortly after, it further strengthened to a typhoon following an eye forming over the center, before rapidly intensifying to a Category 4 super typhoon as it battered the Northern Philippines, particularly the Batanes on July 26. It then reached its peak intensity early the next day, with maximum sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 896 hPa, equivalent to a super typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Interaction with Taiwan and South China, unfavorable environment, and lack of outflow weakened Viola below super typhoon status until it made landfall near Hong Kong as a minimal typhoon on July 28. It rapidly weakened to a tropical storm and remained in that intensity until it further weakened on the midday of the same day below gale-force winds. Viola then degenerated to a remnant low afterward before dissipating on July 31 near Vietnam.

In the Philippines, Viola killed 28 due to landslides in two subsequent areas; though these were unknown. In Guangdong, strong winds, large storm surges and torrential rainfall caused flash floods and mudslides that killed an estimate of 10,000 people in that area alone. The large circulation from Viola also affected Taiwan, killing another 11. Total deaths from the typhoon were estimated at 10,031, while the number of injuries were unknown. The total damages were described as catastrophic, though the numbers were also unknown.^[1]