Typhoon Irma (1985)

Typhoon Irma, known as Typhoon Kit in the Philippines, was a powerful typhoon that impacted the Philippines and southern China in late October 1985. Irma formed as a tropical depression east of the Philippines on October 21st and steadily intensified as it moved westward. It reached typhoon strength on October 23rd and continued to strengthen rapidly, eventually reaching its peak intensity with estimated sustained winds of 115 knots (132 mph, 213 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 925 millibars.

Irma made landfall over the central Philippines on October 24th, bringing torrential rainfall, strong winds, and storm surge. Significant damage was reported in the Visayas region, including widespread flooding, landslides, and destruction of homes and infrastructure. After crossing the Philippines, Irma weakened slightly but remained a strong typhoon as it moved towards southern China.

Irma made a second landfall near Hong Kong on October 27th. While the storm had weakened somewhat by this point, it still brought strong winds and heavy rainfall to the region. Hong Kong experienced significant disruptions, including closures of schools and businesses.

While precise casualty figures are difficult to ascertain, Typhoon Irma caused significant damage and loss of life in both the Philippines and China. Reports indicated dozens of deaths and widespread damage to agriculture.