Typhoon Joan 1970

A destructive Bicol landfall

Joan developed near the Caroline Islands and strengthened while moving west. Its course turned northwest toward the Bicol Peninsula, and the archive records peak one-minute winds of 150 kt early on 13 October. It brushed Catanduanes before making landfall in the Lagonoy Gulf region that day.

Naga City suffered a direct hit. Flying debris, collapsing houses, fallen trees and flooding killed residents across the affected area. Joan continued over Luzon and passed just south of Manila on 14 October as a much weaker typhoon.

A broad storm over the South China Sea

Joan's core became less organized after the Luzon crossing, but its wind field expanded. Gale-force winds extended about 400 km from the center, disrupting shipping across much of the northern South China Sea. The storm turned north toward Hainan and made landfall on the Leizhou Peninsula before weakening over China.

Heavy losses before another typhoon

Joan left more than 80,000 people homeless in the Philippines and caused an estimated US$74 million in damage at 1970 values. The reported death toll reached 768 after 193 missing people were declared dead. Typhoon Kate struck later the same week, worsening conditions during the recovery.