Typhoon 4109

Typhoon 4109
Media
A satellite photo of Typhoon 4109 at peak intensity, with the storm's eye passing over Balikpapan, Indonesia.

Typhoon 4109 at its record peak intensity while passing over Balikpapan, Indonesia on June 7th 2041.

Formed

June 4th 2041

Dissipated

June 10th 2041

Highest winds
  • 355km/h (sustained for one minute)
  • 290km/h (sustained for ten minutes)
Fatalities
  • 19,073 confirmed
  • 3,480 missing
Damage

¥1.9 trillion

Typhoon 4109 was a record-breaking extremely severe Pacific tropical cyclone that caused a swath of catastrophic destruction across Southeast Asia in 2041. The most notable damage occurred on the island of Borneo, where Typhoon 4109 was exacerbated by deforestation and other environmental degradation.

In the aftermath, the Suryanto government was condemned for its apparent lack of preparation and coordination among government agencies in the relief effort. Indonesia suffered ¥1.9 trillion in direct economic losses due to the impact of Typhoon 4109, with many parts of the country remaining in recovery to pre-typhoon levels.

Table of contents

  1. Impact
  2. See also
  3. References

Impact

Typhoon 4109 started as a tropical depression and was upgraded to typhoon status on June 4th 2041. It crossed over the centre of Java, Indonesia on June 5th 2041, causing scattered power outages and damaging or destroying at least 6,000 houses due to mudslides or storm surges, particularly in Semarang. [1]

On June 7th 2041, Typhoon 4109 travelled along the east coast of Borneo after having stalled and strengthened in the Java Sea for almost 48 hours. This area of the island had been significantly developed due to the transplanting of Indonesia’s capital to Sotek, resulting in immense damage to both human-built structures and the degraded environment. [2]

Storm surges as high as 20 metres destroyed numerous coastal villages, with a section of coastline large enough to be noticeable in satellite images eventually breaking off. Due to logging upslope and the paving of extensive areas for industrial and transport activities, the storm surge was met with flooding coming down from the mountains. Sotek and nearby Balikpapan were both caught in this destructive flooding with catastrophic consequences. [3] Every airport on the southeast side of the island was closed for a month, although some military aircraft were able to land with aid.

While direct damages were in the billions, the cost to Indonesia’s economy was estimated at ¥1.3 trillion and has since climbed to ¥1.9 trillion. The government of then-President Denny Suryanto vowed to rebuild Sotek, but lost the 2044 election in part because of its perceived mishandling of the crisis. Commercial and financial activity largely reverted to Java, centred around Bandung on the outskirts of submerged Jakarta. [4]

See also

References

  1. Wade, H. (September 2048). “Strongest Landfalling Tropical Cyclone on Record.” Weather Bulletin. ↩
  2. Hill, G. (July 2041). “Why Typhoon 4109 caused so much damage.” NPR. ↩
  3. Rutkowski, E. (June 2041). “Typhoon 4109: Thousands feared dead across Southeast Asia, Indonesian capital of Sotek largely destroyed.” BBC News. ↩
  4. Firdaus, F. (September 2043). “Suryanto government officially abandons Sotek ahead of elections as vice-president Wibawa resigns and announces presidential bid.” Sotek Globe. ↩