7. SARAH. Areas Affected: Ryukyu Islands, Korea, Southern Japan.
Ryukyu Islands: Typhoon SARAH left a trail of death and destruction on Miyako Jima Island in the Ryukyus. There were 7 deaths, 88 injuries and more than 6,000 homes were destroyed. SARAH's winds and heavy seas also smashed the fishing pier and 2,200 feet of seawall. Electric power lines were knocked down and the island was left without electric power for a considerable period. All crops were ruined. Damage was estimated at $2 million.
Korean: Korea's worst typhoon in 50 years left 669 dead, 259 missing and thousands injured and homeless. The homeless were officially listed at 782,126 persons.
In addition to the casualty list, the Ministry of Social Affairs reported property losses exceeded $100 million. The loss included 14,000 homes destroyed and 2,800 fishing vessels sunk. Another 2,600 vessels were badly damaged and 313,000 acres of farmland were flooded. Reports from U.S. authorities said military installations in the Pusan and Taegu areas suffered $900,000 damage, with damage to Pusan port exceeding $100,000.
The Pusan area of Korea was hit the hardest. Police reported 25,834 persons homeless from floods and tidal waves. An estimated 15,379 homes were washed away, damaged or destroyed.
Southern Japan: Skirting Kyushu, SARAH flooded communities and sank fishing boats. She killed 24 persons and injured 186. On Honshu and Kyushu 1,188 houses were either demolished or partially destroyed.
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