FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF STORM SURGE DISASTER AND SEA LEVEL RISE DUE TO TYPHOON 9918 HITTING SHIRANUI TOWN, MATSUAI DISTRICT

Abstract

The season's 18th typhoon hit Kumamoto Prefecture on September 24, 1999, and 12 people were killed in the town of Shiranui facing Yatsushiro Sea. The storm surges produced abnormal sea level rises and caused heavy damage to Matsuai District. The maximum sea level was marked at 7.0 m above C. D. L., and the anomaly of meteorological tide was estimated to be 3.9 m (5:50 a.m.). It is quite dangerous to believe that even very violent attack of storm surges can be completely prevented by man-made structures. Evacuation to safe areas as soon as possible is the best recourse for the inhabitants before a storm surge attacks.