Typhoon Vera

A U.S. Navy helicopter and a Japanese Self-Defense Forces helicopter evacuate residents of the Nagoya prefecture, Japan, following Typhoon Vera.

Typhoon Vera, also called the Isewan Typhoon, was a super typhoon that struck Japan in September 1959. It was the strongest and deadliest typhoon ever in the country.^[1] It was also a severe setback to the Japanese economy (Japan was still recovering from World War II). Vera's wind speed was 190 miles per hour (310 km/h).

It was given the name "Vera" by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.^[2] It caused extensive damage to Ise Bay (Isewan in Japanese) which is why it is called the Isewan Typhoon in Japan.^[2] Overall damage from the storm was ¥600 million.^[3] More than 5,000 people lost their lives in the typhoon.^[3]

References

1. "Worst Natural Disasters by Death Toll" (PDF). NOAA. Retrieved Oct 23, 2015.
2. "55th Anniversary of Typhoon Vera or the "Isewan Typhoon"". NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
3. "1959- Super Typhoon Vera". University of Rhode Island. Retrieved 23 October 2015.