Typhoon Babs (a.k.a. Severe Typhoon Babs) (9811) A tropical depression named Babs developed about 320 km northwest of Yap on 15 October. Tracking westwards, Babs intensified into a tropical storm on 18 October and attained typhoon strength two days later. Babs inflicted serious damage in the Philippines. The heavy rain associated with it caused serious flooding and landslides. 163 people were killed and 130 000 made homeless. The economic loss was estimated at US$71 million. Entering the South China Sea on 23 October, Babs took on a more northerly track and initially posed a serious threat to Hong Kong. It then turned north-northeastwards towards the Taiwan Strait in the late evening of 25 October and started to weaken. Babs finally dissipated over the Taiwan Strait on 27 October. In Taiwan Babs killed two people and left six missing, while in Fujian there were five deaths and three injuries. In Hong Kong the Standby Signal No. 1 was hoisted at 10.15 p.m. on 23 October when Babs was about 770 km to the southeast. As Babs came closer on 24 October, the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was hoisted at 11.40 p.m. that evening. Under the combined effect of Babs and the northeast monsoon, northerlies strengthened and winds offshore occasionally reached gale force. Maximum hourly wind of 81 km/h and maximum gust of 113 km/h were recorded at Waglan Island. At 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. on 26 October, the lowest hourly sea-level pressure of 1 001.4 hPa was recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory headquarters. Babs passed about 240 km to the east-southeast of Hong Kong at around 8 a.m. and then moved away gradually. All tropical cyclone warning signals were lowered at 9.30 p.m. on 26 October. During the passage of Babs, there were several reports of fallen trees and collapsed scaffoldings in Hong Kong. A total of 14 people was injured. Five wave surfers got into trouble in the heavy seas but wererescued.
