 Typhoon Rammasun , known in the Philippines as Typhoon Florita , was the first of four typhoons to contribute to heavy rainfall and deadly flooding in the Philippines in July 2002 . The fifth tropical cyclone of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season , Rammasun developed around the same time as Typhoon Chataan , only further to the west . The storm tracked northwestward toward Taiwan , and on July 2 it attained its peak intensity with winds of 160 km / h ( 100 mph ) . Rammasun turned northward , passing east of Taiwan and China . In Taiwan , the outer rainbands dropped rainfall that alleviated drought conditions . In China , the rainfall occurred after previously wet conditions , resulting in additional flooding , although damage was less than expected ; there was about $ 85 million in crop and fishery damage in one province . 
