 Satellite image of the Flores cyclone on 28 April | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 26 April 1973 (1973-04-26) |
| Dissipated | 30 April 1973 (1973-04-30) |
| Category 3 severe tropical cyclone | |
| 10-minute sustained (BMKG) | |
| Highest winds | 150 km/h (90 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 950hPa (mbar); 28.05 inHg |
| Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 185 km/h (115 mph) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1,653 total (Deadliest tropical cyclone recorded in the Southern Hemisphere) |
| Damage | $5 million (1973USD) |
| Areas affected | Indonesia,East Timor |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the1972–73 Australian region cyclone season | |
The1973 Flores cyclone was the deadliest knowntropical cyclone in theSouthern Hemisphere, having killed 1,653 people inIndonesia in April 1973. The cyclone formed in theBanda Sea on 26 April as a tropicallow. It intensified as it moved in a west-southwest direction, before shifting to the south. On 29 April, the cyclone struck the north coast of the island ofFlores, dissipating the next day. The cyclone killed 1,500 people onPalu'e island. The cyclone dropped heavy rainfall across Flores, causing deadlyflash flooding that damaged buildings and roads, destroying or damaging thousands of houses.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn 26 April, a tropical low formed in theBanda Sea in the waters of easternIndonesia. According to Australia'sBureau of Meteorology (BoM), the low moved to the west-southwest and intensified, although this was based on a later analysis. As the storm was outside of the agency's jurisdiction, the BoM did not issue warnings on the system at the time. The low attained gale-force winds late on 27 April as it moved into theFlores Sea. Late the next day, the storm turned southwestward.[1][2]
The BoM estimated that the storm reached peak intensity early on 29 April, assessing it as a Category 3 on theAustralian tropical cyclone intensity scale, withmaximum sustained winds of 150 km/h (90 mph).[1] While near peak intensity, the small tropical cyclone hadeye embedded within acentral dense overcast, 295 km (185 mi) in diameter.[2] The cyclone madelandfall on the northern coast of the Indonesian island ofFlores at 09:00 WITA with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and a pressure of 975 millibars (28.79 inHg).[3][4] After crossing the island, the cyclone dissipated on 30 April near Flores' southern coast.[1]
In the Flores Sea, the cyclone capsized a 500-ton freighterO Arbiru, based out ofPortuguese Timor, which was delivering a rice shipment fromBangkok. Of the crew of 24 people, only one person, a crew member, survived.[3][5][6][7] They were found safe onFlores.[3] OnPalu'e island alone, the cyclone killed 1,500 people who were mostly fishermen.[8][9]
News of the disaster in Flores took a month to reach authorities in the capital, Jakarta, due to lack of communications and the remoteness of the island.[2][10] Across the region, the cyclone killed 1,653 people,[8] making it the deadliest tropical cyclone recorded in theSouthern Hemisphere.[11] The storm lashed the coast with astorm surge that broke tens of meters inland, which newspapers described as a "tidal wave".[3][10] InNgada Regency, 24 people drowned after being swept away by high waves.[12] Another 10 people were killed inManggarai Regency,[10] and another 10 inMaumere.[13] Reports described Ngada to be the worst hit area.[14] For three days, the storm dropped heavy rainfall across Flores, which produced deadly landslides andflash flooding that washed away rice fields, livestock, and entire homes.[15][3] The cyclone wrecked schools, homes, dams, and bridges. The storm also wrecked government buildings, with heavy damage reported in the regional capital ofEnde.[10] Around 1,800 houses were leveled with others being badly damaged. Boats that were in the path of the cyclone were destroyed.[3] InPaluʼe, around 80% of houses were destroyed.[9] The storm was described as apocalyptic and was nicknamed the "Flores Death Cyclone".[3][9] Losses were estimated to be at around $5 million (1973USD).[3][16]
After the floods, the Indonesian government constructed the Sutami Weir, which was finished in 1975. Theweir controlled the water flow on the island and helped irrigate 6,500 ha (16,000 acres) of rice paddy fields.[15]
