the storm took aim at the northeastern tip of Hainan Island on October 17. It made landfall on the Luichow Peninsula as a minimal typhoon and dissipated over southern China on October 18. Impact A United States Coast Guard LORAN station on Catanduanes, 30 miles (50 km) north of where the centre of the storm passed, recorded a windspeed of 90 knots (165 km/h or 105 mph) gusting to 110 knots (205 km/h or 130 mph). In Virac, on the island, the Philippine Weather Bureau station recorded a minimum sea level pressure of 950.7 mb and winds of , but was heavily damaged. Typhoon Joan made a direct hit on Naga City, where many people died from flying debris, collapsing homes, falling trees and floods. By doing so, the storm became the most intense storm ever of the Bicol Region. Manila International Airport reported a peak gust of 84 knots (156 km/h or 97 mph) and a minimum pressure reading of 976.9 mb, while a U.S. Coast Guard ship, the USCGC Blackhaw anchored in Manila Bay reported a gust. The storm caused damage bad enough to rank high as some of the most destructive figures ever. Joan left over 80,000 people homeless, in addition to killing 575 people (193 people were unaccounted for, and have since been declared dead, bringing the total toll to 768) and injuring nearly 1600. US$74 million (1970 USD, $373 million 2005 USD) of damage was estimated, along with a 92% loss of agricultural crop in the regions affected. Later that same week, Super Typhoon Kate devastated the Philippines, making conditions worse. In the South China Sea, shipping traffic was disrupted and USS Agerholm was reportedly in distress for almost 24 hours. However, there is a lack of information about damage and deaths in China. See also List of tropical cyclones 1970 Pacific typhoon season References 1970 Pacific typhoon season Typhoons in the Philippines Typhoons in China Typhoon Joan Typhoon Joan Typhoons Retired Philippine typhoon names 1970 disasters in Asia