Severe Tropical Storm Gary, known as Ditang in the Philippines, was a strong and destructive tropical cyclone that affected China and the Philippines. Gary upgraded to a tropical storm on July 21. On July 22, the JMA reported that Gary attained a minimum pressure of . In Philippines, 36 people were killed, In China, 26 deaths were reported. 486 bridges were damaged. In Hong Kong, at least 18 people were injure. In Macau, no injuries and deaths were reported.

Meteorological history

On July 16, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) first monitored a tropical disturbance northwest of the Yap. On July 17, the JTWC issued its Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA). At 06:00 UTC on July 17, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began monitoring the system as a tropical depression. Once the storm crossed the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on July 17, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigned it the local name Ditang. At 0:00 UTC on July 19, the JTWC issued its first warning on Tropical Depression 07W. At 08:00 UTC on July 20, Gary made its first landfall in Dinapigue as a tropical depression. At 18:00 UTC on the same day, the JTWC upgraded Gary to a tropical storm. At 00:00 UTC on July 21, the JMA upgraded Gary to a tropical storm. At 00:00 UTC on July 22, the JMA upgraded Gary to a severe tropical storm. At 06:00 UTC on the same day, the JMA estimated a minimum pressure of .

At 12:00 UTC on the same day, the storm developed a large ragged eye and the JTWC upgraded Gary to a Category 1 typhoon. At 18:00 UTC on the same day, Gary made landfall near Zhanjiang. At 00:00 UTC on July 23, both the JMA and JTWC downgraded Gary to a tropical storm. At 12:00 UTC on July 23, the JTWC issued the final warning for the system. The storm dissipated between Yunnan and Myanmar at 18:00 UTC on July 24.

Preparations and Impact In the Philippines, 36 people were killed, 77 were injured, and six were reported missing. A total of 134,417 people were affected. Total damage was estimated at $18.4 million (₱471 million), including $9.7 million (₱249 million) in damage to infrastructure and $8.3 million (₱213 million) in damage to agriculture.Money values converted via Pacific Exchange Rate Service with an exchange rate for 1992 A total of 478 homes were damaged. 1,305 homes were partially damaged. Fifteen passengers were killed in Palayan City. Five people were reported drowned in Caloocan City. A 30-year-old woman was drowned. One person drowned in Quezon City. Central Luzon was declared the hardest-hit area. Four feet mudflows from rains were reported in Mount Pinatubo. 53 families were evacuated in Zambales and 183 families were evacuated in Caloocan. President Fidel V. Ramos declared a state of calamity in 2 cities and Nueva Ecija.

In Hong Kong on July 20 at 10:30 pm HKT, the Royal Observatory issued a Signal No. 1. The following day, at 03:45pm HKT, the Royal Observatory raised it to a Strong Wind Signal No. 3. At 05:45am HKT on July 22, the Royal Observatory raised it to Northeast Gale or Signal No. 8. At 04:15pm HKT the same day, the Royal Observatory downgraded it Strong Wind Signal No. 3. At 06:50 pm HKT, all signals were lowered. A total of 18 injuries were reported. Failing trees were reported in two locations.

Throughout China, of roads and 486 bridges were damaged. Damage was estimated at $1.09 billion (6 billion RMB). one fatality occurred and nine people were injured, A total of 100,000 homes; of crops; of roads; 86 bridges; 19 reservoirs; two power stations and 63 rural water conservancy projects were damaged, A total of 20,000 homes were destroyed; of high and low voltage power lines; of communication lines; 434 culverts and sluices were destroyed. 29,000 thatched houses collapsed, The water levels in the Zuojiang and Yujiang Rivers increased considerably. 700 boats were damaged, including 540 sailing boats and 147 motorized boats. damage was estimated at 5 billion RMB in Guangdong. In Xuwen County, rainfall peaked at in one day. In Guangxi, 25 people were reported dead and 54 people were injured. Approximately 23,000 homes were either destroyed or sustained damage. A total of of roads; 400 bridges, and of drainage pipes were damaged. of farmland were flooded. Damage in province was estimated at 1 billion RMB.

Notes

References