Typhoon Betty (1987)

Under the anticipation that Betty would strike the Philippines, weather alerts were issued in 11 provinces.[9] Manila was placed on "stage three" alert initially, but after the storm passed south of the city, it was downgraded to "stage two" alert.[10] School classes were suspended and residents in low-lying areas were asked to be ready to evacuate. Warnings urging residents to prepare for the storm were broadcast via television. Eighteen ships were also evacuated.[11] Many radio stations were closed.[10] Typhoon Betty battered the Philippines at peak intensity, bringing heavy rains[12] while also becoming the deepest tropical cyclone to affect the island nation since Typhoon Ike of the 1984 Pacific typhoon season.[13] It also leveled trees and crops, demolished houses, and knocked down power lines.[14] Many highways, crops, buildings, and homes were destroyed.[15]

Two people were killed in San Pablo; four died in the city of Batangas.[16] Five people were killed when they drowned in when their boat was capsized in the rough waters of the Pacific. One person was missing and five others were injured.[17] In the Laguna province, three people, including a 6 year old boy were killed.[10][18] In the resort of Tagaytay, many homes lost their roofs. Communication was lost in the Quezon province.[10] Elsewhere, roughly 2,500 individuals were evacuated to shelter in Legazpi, many of whom were houses in schools and churches. However, the metropolis of Manila escaped any major damage, although power was lost in some places.[19] Along the Maguindanao and Albay provinces, 10,000 people were evacuated[14] and crop damage totaled $50,000;[11] in the latter alone, 1,000 families were displaced.[19] Typhoon Betty also destroyed 70 homes on Masbate Island, forcing the evacuation of 412.[18] Five people were also killed on the island. In Marinduque, five casualties occurred and at least 4,000 houses were damaged.[20] There, 100% of all banana and coconut trees were destroyed.[21] The Sorsogon province sustained the worst effects from the storm, where there were 18 fatalities and at least 57,000 homes were demolished. Moreover, 19 people died on Samar Island.[22][23] Six fisherman were also listed as missing.[24] Along southern Luzon, railway service was suspended and 11 domestic flights in and out of the country on August 12 were cancelled.[11] The next day, Philippine Airlines called off all domestic flights, including three flights each to Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo were cancelled.[16] Trading was suspended on the Manila and Makati stock exchanges for a day.[18]

Eighty-five people perished as a result of Typhoon Betty[1] while 17 were reported missing.[25] Nationwide, around 200,000 people were reportedly homeless,[26] including 18,000 in Marinduque and 11,400 on Mindoro Island.[27] A total of 25,518 homes were damaged.[28] Roughly 400,000 people were directly affected by the storm,[29] 371 of which were injured.[22] Overall, damage amounted to more than PHP 2 billion ($100 million 1987 USD),[30] including $6 million in the provinces of Batangas and Samar. Damage to roads totaled $2.1 million.[31] Following the storm, Philippine President Corazon Aquino declared a state of calamity in more than a dozen provinces.[32] Within a few days after Betty hit, the Philippine Airlines resumed normal flight schedules and schools were reopened.[33] A few months following the passage of Betty, the nation itself was hit by Typhoon Nina.[34]

After striking the Philippines, six people were killed by Betty in Vietnam. Approximately 10,000 structures were damaged and 103 people were wounded.[35] Nearly 25,000 acres (10,000 ha) of rice fields were destroyed and nearly 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) of other farmland sustained damage [36] In northern Thailand, one person was killed and three others were hurt by the typhoon.[35] Several villages were flooded, and many roads were damaged.[37]