After cutting a destructive swath
through Asia, killing dozens and severely disrupting
transportation, Typhoon Zeb weakened to a tropical storm
and moved into the Sea of Japan on Oct. 18.
Before hitting Japan, Typhoon Zeb devastated parts of the Philippines and Taiwan. Zeb killed at least 74 people in the Philippines on Oct. 14. Most drowned or were buried in landslides. At least 103,000 people were forced to flee their homes in the Philippines because of flooding.
At its peak, Zeb reached "super typhoon" status, with sustained winds faster than 150 mph and gusts measuring 184 mph. The strongest of eight storms to hit the Philippines in 1998, Zeb weakened as it moved through. Its winds dropped to 103 mph with gusts of up to 125 mph, but regained some strength before slashing Taiwan, killing at least 25 people on Oct. 16.
At least 12 people in Japan were killed by landslides and weather-related accidents. More than 1,500 people were forced to flee their homes as the dying typhoon swirled across Japan on Oct. 17-18.
The storm caused the cancellation of domestic flights, including some departing from Tokyo's Haneda Airport, and disrupted train and ferry service all across Japan.