Tropical Storm Luke

Severe Tropical Storm Luke, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Pepang, was a short-lived tropical storm that brushed Japan during September 1991. Tropical Storm Luke formed from a disturbance that moved through the Northern Marianas and became a tropical depression on September 14 just to the west of the islands. The depression began to slowly intensify as it moved towards the west-northwest and Tropical Storm Luke was named on September 15. Luke reached peak intensity prior to recurving to the northeast and weakening due to increased shear. Tropical Storm Luke then paralleled the southeastern Japan coastline before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone. Overall, 12 people were killed and 23 others were injured. A total of 225 houses were destroyed while 52,662 others were flooded. There were reports of 644 landslides and roads were damaged at 418 locations. Rivers crested at 18 spots and six bridges were washed away. Greater than 40 domestic flights were cancelled. A total of 103 bullet trains were cancelled and 160 others delayed between Tokyo and Osaka, which left 315,000 people stranded. Additionally, 11,999 trains were halted in eastern and northern Japan, stranding 750,000 passengers. Two ships as well as 4,973 ha (12,290 acres) of farmland were damaged. Monetary damage totaled ¥24.2 billion yen (US$179 million).