Tropical Storm Cecil
Severe Tropical Storm Cecil in May of 1989 caused devastating floods in central Vietnam, killing 751 people. The storm developed as a tropical depression over the South China Sea on May 22. Tracking north-northwestward, the system steadily intensified, attaining peak winds of 110 km/h (68 mph). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) assessed Cecil to have been slightly stronger with one-minute sustained winds of 140 km/h (87 mph). The storm made landfall near Hoi An, Vietnam early on May 25 and quickly weakened. The system later dissipated over Laos on May 26.
| Severe tropical storm (JMA scale) | |
|---|---|
| Category 1 typhoon (SSHWS) | |
Tropical Storm Cecil approaching central Vietnam on May 24 | |
| Formed | May 22, 1989 |
| Dissipated | May 26, 1989 |
| Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 110 km/h (70 mph) 1-minute sustained: 140 km/h (85 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 975 hPa (mbar); 28.79 inHg |
| Fatalities | 751 total |
| Damage | $71.7 million (1989 USD) |
| Areas affected | Vietnam, Laos, Thailand |
| Part of the 1989 Pacific typhoon season | |
In Vietnam, heavy rains accompanied the storm, amounting to over 510 mm (20 in) in some areas, triggered catastrophic and deadly flooding. Widespread structural and agricultural losses took place in addition to the significant loss of life, with damage estimated at ₫300 billion ($71.7 million). In the wake of the flooding, some international aid was sent to Vietnam, though most relief work was conducted by the nation's government, local agencies, and the Red Cross.