Sediment Disasters Caused by Typhoon No.14, 2005, in Miyazaki Prefecture

Abstract

Typhoon No.14 struck Japan in September, 2005, subjecting large areas to danger for many hours. The maximum hourly rainfall was not so great, but the total rainfall for 72 hours was > 500 mm in areas which suffered considerable damage. The typhoon caused 116 debris flows, 185 slope-collapses, and 30 landslides. Concerning human and building casualties, twenty-seven people were killed in Kagoshima, Miyazaki and Yamaguchi Prefecture, and two people went missing in Oita Prefecture. Additionally, 1,178 houses were completely destroyed and 3,692 houses were partly destroyed in Japan by the typhoon. These damages were due to comparatively heavy rainfall which continued for many hours. Large scale slope-collapses occurred in particular, around Miyazaki Prefecture due to heavy continuous rainfall (862 - 1,321mm).