View source for Typhoon Fran

{{short description|Pacific typhoon in 1976}}
{{About|1976 typhoon|other storms of the same name|List of storms named Fran|and|List of storms named Reming}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Typhoon Fran (Reming)
| image = FranSeptember71976DMSP.gif
| caption = Typhoon Fran undergoing rapid intensification on September&nbsp;7
| formed = September 3, 1976
| extratropical = September 14, 1976
| dissipated = September 16, 1976
}}{{Infobox weather event/JMA
| winds = 
| pressure = 910
| category = typhoon
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 130
| pressure = 913
| basin = WPac
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1976
| fatalities = 169 total
| damage = 660000000
| areas = [[Mariana Islands]], Japan
| refs = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1976 Pacific typhoon season]]
}}
'''Typhoon Fran''', known in the [[Philippines]] as '''Super Typhoon Reming''', produced tremendous rainfall in Japan including, at the time, a national 24-hour record accumulation of {{convert|44.8|in|mm|abbr=on|order=flip}}. Forming as a tropical depression on September&nbsp;3 to the southeast of [[Guam]], Fran steadily intensified as it moved along a general northwest track. After brushing Guam two days later, the system achieved [[typhoon]] status on September&nbsp;6 after the formation of an [[Eye (cyclone)|eye]]. A period of [[rapid deepening|explosive intensification]] ensued thereafter and Fran reached its peak as a [[Category 4 hurricane|Category&nbsp;4]]-equivalent typhoon with winds of {{convert|240|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} the following day. Gradual weakening began on September&nbsp;8 as it neared the [[Ryukyu Islands]], and the system subsequently meandered near the islands for two days before striking [[Kyushu]] on September&nbsp;12. It then moved over the [[Sea of Japan]] where it transitioned into an [[extratropical cyclone]] and ultimately dissipated on September&nbsp;16.

Regarded as the worst typhoon in ten years, nearly a week of continuous rains caused disastrous flooding and landslides across Japan. Accumulations peaked at {{convert|2781|mm|in|abbr=on}} in [[Kito, Tokushima|Hiso]], [[Tokushima Prefecture|Tokushima]]. More than 325,000&nbsp;people were forced to evacuate their homes and transportation was crippled. Nearly half a million homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving 300,000&nbsp;people homeless. Many residents required rooftop rescue by helicopter. All told, the typhoon killed 169&nbsp;people and left at least US$660&nbsp;million in damage throughout its path.

==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Fran 1976 track.png}}
In early September&nbsp;1976, an area of [[Atmospheric convection|convection]] was identified within a [[monsoon trough]] to the northeast of [[Pohnpei]]. Traveling west, the system gradually developed and was classified as a [[tropical depression]]—the seventeenth of the [[1976 Pacific typhoon season|season]]—at 12:00&nbsp;[[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] on September&nbsp;3 by the [[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]] (JTWC).<ref name="ATCR"/>{{#tag:ref|The [[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]] is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the western Pacific Ocean and other regions.<ref>{{cite web|work=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|publisher=United States Navy|title=Joint Typhoon Warning Center Mission Statement|year=2011|access-date=January 7, 2013|url=https://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc/menu/JTWC_mission.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726103400/https://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc/menu/JTWC_mission.html|archive-date=July 26, 2007}}</ref>|group="note"}} At this time, the depression was located roughly {{convert|795|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Guam]].<ref name="JTWCBT"/> Situated near a weakness in a [[subtropical ridge]] (located south of Japan), the incipient depression turned northwest and gained strength. [[hurricane hunters|Aircraft reconnaissance]] found the system to have achieved [[tropical storm]] status by 03:39&nbsp;UTC the next day, measuring a central pressure of 997&nbsp;[[Pascal (unit)|hPa]] ([[Bar (unit)|mbar]]; 29.44&nbsp;[[Inches of Mercury|inHg]]). At this time, the system was [[tropical cyclone naming|assigned the name]] ''Fran''. On September&nbsp;5, Fran brushed the [[Mariana Islands]] to the southwest, passing {{convert|35|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Guam. Intensification began in earnest on September&nbsp;6 as a {{convert|55|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide [[Eye (cyclone)|eye]] developed, signaling Fran's rise to [[typhoon]] status. Upper-level conditions, including two [[anticyclone]]s to the north and east, temporarily hindered additional strengthening by suppressing the typhoon's [[Outflow (meteorology)|outflow]].<ref name="ATCR"/>

During the latter part of September&nbsp;6, the aforementioned hindering features quickly subsided, allowing for ample ventilation of the storm and enabled a period of [[rapid deepening|explosive intensification]]. Aided by a [[Shortwave (meteorology)|shortwave trough]] over central China, Fran's outflow dramatically improved. In a roughly 24-hour span from September&nbsp;6–7, Fran's central pressure plummeted from 977&nbsp;hPa (mbar; 28.85&nbsp;inHg) to {{convert|916|hPa|inHg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}. This included a drop of 43&nbsp;hPa (mbar; 1.27&nbsp;inHg) in 12&nbsp;hours.<ref name="ATCR"/> Fran achieved its peak [[maximum sustained wind]]s of {{convert|240|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at 12:00&nbsp;UTC,{{#tag:ref|''In situ'' estimates thought Fran to have been slightly stronger, with maximum winds of {{convert|250|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref name="MWL_Smooth"/>|group="note"}} classifying it as a [[Category 4 hurricane|Category&nbsp;4]]-equivalent on the [[Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale|Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale]].<ref name="JTWCBT">{{cite web|work=[[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]]|publisher=United States Navy|year=1977|access-date=January 6, 2016|title=[Typhoon Fran (17W) 1976 Best Track]|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1976/1976s-bwp/bwp171976.txt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916203109/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/best_tracks/1976/1976s-bwp/bwp171976.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 16, 2012|format=.TXT}}</ref> The storm also entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility around this time, prompting [[PAGASA]] to assign it with the local name ''Reming''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.typhoon2000.ph/stormstats/1963-1988_PTC.txt|title=PAGASA Tropical Cyclone Names 1963–1988|author=Padua, Michael V|publisher=Typhoon 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827033524/http://www.typhoon2000.ph/stormstats/1963-1988_PTC.txt|archive-date=August 27, 2015|access-date=January 6, 2015|date=November 6, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> A subsequent reanalysis, though not yet integrated into JTWC's official track, determined Fran to have been slightly weaker with winds of {{convert|230|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref name="2013MWR">{{cite journal|journal=Monthly Weather Review|author1=Kenneth R. Knapp |author2=John A. Knaff |author3=Charles R. Sampson |author4=Gustavo M. Riggio |author5=Adam D. Schnapp  |name-list-style=amp |volume=141|issue=8|date=August 2013|title=A Pressure-Based Analysis of the Historical Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Intensity Record|doi=10.1175/MWR-D-12-00323.1|pages=2,611–2,631|bibcode=2013MWRv..141.2611K|s2cid=19031120 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Though conditions remained highly favorable, Fran entered a near-steady state at this point with its pressure decreasingly slightly to its lowest observed value of 913&nbsp;hPa (mbar; 26.96&nbsp;inHg) at 21:09&nbsp;UTC.<ref name="ATCR"/> At this time, Fran was an unusually large cyclone with [[gale]]-force winds extending 485&nbsp;mi (300&nbsp;mi) from its center and an immense 13.4° [[radius of outermost closed isobar]].<ref name="MWL_Smooth"/><ref name="2013MWR"/> The previously beneficial shortwave trough bypassed the typhoon on September&nbsp;8 and allowed for increased [[wind shear]] from an anticyclone to the west to impact Fran. This resulted in slow weakening of the storm. Rounding the edge of a separate [[Trough (meteorology)|trough]], Fran also began a northward turn that directed it at the [[Ryukyu Islands]] of Japan.<ref name="ATCR"/>

Between 12:00 and 18:00&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;9, the eye of Fran passed between [[Okinoerabujima]] and [[Tokunoshima]]. Continual back and forth shifting of a trough north of the typhoon caused Fran to slow to a crawl by September&nbsp;10. For the next day, Fran moved erratically along the western edge of the [[Tokara Islands]], southwest of [[Kyushu]], all the while battering the region with torrential rain and damaging winds. A deepening trough over China pushed the weakening typhoon northeast on September&nbsp;11,<ref name="ATCR"/> with Fran eventually making [[landfall]] over [[Nagasaki Prefecture]] between 12:00 and 18:00&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;12.<ref name="JTWCBT"/> Winds up to {{convert|97|mph|km/h|abbr=on|order=flip}} were reported in [[Nagasaki, Nagasaki|Nagasaki City]].<ref name="TTHR914"/> After losing typhoon strength, Fran emerged over the [[Sea of Japan]] where cooler waters spurred its transition into an [[extratropical cyclone]] by 06:00&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;13.<ref name="ATCR"/> The remnant system continued northward, brushing [[Primorsky Krai]], Russia, before turning back to the south.<ref name="JMABT"/> On September&nbsp;14, multiple vessels encountered [[gale]]-force winds, with a ship by the call sign ''URPS'' reporting {{convert|111|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} winds, and seas up to {{convert|31|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}. Winds gradually subsided as the storm weakened, and only two ships encountered gales on September&nbsp;15.<ref name="MWL_Smooth"/> It ultimately dissipated over the Sea of Japan on September&nbsp;16.<ref name="JMABT">{{cite web|work=[[Japan Meteorological Agency]]|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|date=March 19, 2013|access-date=January 6, 2016|title=Typhoon 197617 (Fran) – Detailed Track Information|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/summary/wnp/l/197617.html.en}}</ref>

==Impact==
{{Location map+|Japan|width=350|float=right|relief=yes|border=yes|caption=Locations observing more than {{convert|1,000|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain during Typhoon Fran across Japan.<ref name="Totalrain">{{cite web|work=Digital Typhoon|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|date=n.d.|access-date=January 5, 2016|title=[Typhoon Fran 1976] Precipitation Summary|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/summary_prec.pl?id=197617&lang=en&sort=total&order=dec&stype=number}}</ref><ref name="MaxRain"/> The gold marker denotes the location of Hiso, Tokushima.
|places=
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.0071603|long=134.3678588|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Fukuharaasahi-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.7489239|long=133.5754851|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Motoyama-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.4897612|long=134.2133736|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Uchinomi-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.5703793|long=133.3697757|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Kochi-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.9220000|long=134.2650000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Edayama-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=36.1045866|long=137.5428365|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Mount Dainichi-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.1819096|long=136.0992302|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Mount Ōdaigahara-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.4994396|long=133.1987143|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Sakawa-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.5794779|long=133.3898669|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Naruyama-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.7899708|long=133.1268512|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Jojusha-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.3120660|long=136.1826914|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Odai-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.2252680|long=134.3613518|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Hiketa-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=35.7570000|long=136.9780000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Hachiman-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.1630000|long=134.3930000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Taisanji-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.4170000|long=133.0900000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Funato-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.6780000|long=133.6850000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Shigeto-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=28.3780000|long=129.4950000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Naze-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.0600000|long=136.1100000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Hachimantoge-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.4480000|long=136.3900000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Kayumi-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.6700000|long=134.5220000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Ieshima-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=34.0430000|long=134.1670000|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Anabuki-->}}
{{Location map~|Japan|lat=33.7478692|long=134.1338449|mark=Gold pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top|label=<!--Hiso-->}}
}}
On September&nbsp;5, Tropical Storm Fran brushed the [[Mariana Islands]], passing {{convert|35|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the west of [[Guam]]. Damage, if any, is unknown, though sustained winds of {{convert|56|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and gusts of {{convert|76|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} were observed on Guam.<ref name="ATCR">{{cite report|author1=Dean R. Morford|author2=Serhij Pilipowskyj|name-list-style=amp|work=[[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]]|publisher=United States Navy|year=1977|access-date=January 5, 2016|chapter=Typhoon Fran|title=Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|chapter-url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1976atcr.pdf|pages=42–45|archive-date=June 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619185401/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1976atcr.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Prior to the arrival of Fran in the Ryukyu Islands, the United States Air Force relocated 30&nbsp;aircraft from their base in [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] to bases in South Korea.<ref>{{cite news|agency=[[United Press International]]|newspaper=The Salem News|volume=87|number=214|page=1|date=September 8, 1976|access-date=January 5, 2016|title=Typhoon Aims At Okinawa|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3972609//|location=Salem, Ohio|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref> Officials stressed the nature of the evacuation as the movement of aircraft coincided with the end of a heightened alert period along the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone|Korean DMZ]] following the [[Korean axe murder incident|death of two U.S. Army officers.]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Fred. F. Hoffman|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=Abilene Report-News|page=90|date=September 8, 1976|access-date=January 5, 2016|title=Normal Alert Reinstated for U.S. Forces In S. Korea|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3972668//|location=Washington, D.C.|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref>

The typhoon's slow movement led to tremendous rainfall accumulations across parts of southeastern Japan,<ref name="DTstats"/> with some areas seeing continuous rain for six days.<ref name="Nancy15"/> Multiple stations recorded over {{convert|1000|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain,<ref name="DTstats"/> primarily across [[Shikoku]],<ref name="Totalrain"/> with a peak of {{convert|2781|mm|in|abbr=on}} in [[Kito, Tokushima|Hiso]], [[Tokushima Prefecture|Tokushima]].<ref name="MaxRain">{{cite journal|language=Japanese|author=Ikuo Tasaka|journal=Geographical Review of Japan|year=1981|volume=54|number=10|access-date=January 5, 2016|title=The Difference of Rainfall Distribution in Relation to Time-Scale: A Case Study on Heavy Rainfall of September 8–13, 1976, in the Shikoku Island Caused by Typhoon 7617 Fran|url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/grj1925/54/10/54_10_570/_pdf|format=PDF|pages=570–578|doi=10.4157/grj.54.570|doi-access=free}}</ref> Of this, {{convert|44.8|in|mm|abbr=on|order=flip}} fell in a 24-hour span between September&nbsp;11–12, the highest such total on record in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|author=Edward J. Hopkins|publisher=[[American Meteorological Society]]|year=2013|access-date=January 5, 2016|title=Weekly Climate News: 9–13 September 2013|url=http://www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/ecs/samplecourse/news01.html}}</ref> However, sources differ on this total with some indicating the peak 24-hour total being {{convert|1174|mm|in|abbr=on}} in [[Kamikatsu, Tokushima|Fukuharaasahi]],<ref>{{cite web|work=Digital Typhoon|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|date=n.d.|access-date=January 5, 2016|title=Link Collection|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/links.html.en}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=March 2020}} or {{convert|1114|mm|in|abbr=on}}, which was observed in [[Kito, Tokushima|Kito]].<ref name="2004rain"/> Regardless of which total was valid, it remained the national record until August&nbsp;2004 when [[Typhoon Namtheun (2004)|Typhoon Namtheun]] produced a 24-hour total of {{convert|1317|mm|in|abbr=on}} in [[Kisawa, Tokushima|Kisawa]].<ref name="2004rain">{{cite report|author1=Gonghui Wang |author2=Akira Suemine |author3=Gen Furuya |author4=Masahiro Kaibori |author5=Kyoji Sassa  |name-list-style=amp |publisher=[[International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment|International Association for Engineering Geology]]|year=2006|access-date=January 5, 2016|title=Rainstorm-induced landslides in Kisawa village, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan|url=http://iaeg2006.geolsoc.org.uk/cd/PAPERS/IAEG_167.PDF}}</ref> Significant totals across other prefectures include {{convert|1392|mm|in|abbr=on}} in [[Motoyama, Kōchi]], {{convert|1328|mm|in|abbr=on}} in [[Uchinomi, Kagawa]], {{convert|1188|mm|in|abbr=on}} on [[Iide Mountains|Mount Dainichi]], and {{convert|1184|mm|in|abbr=on}} on [[Mount Ōdaigahara]].<ref name="DTstats"/>

Thousands of landslides caused considerable damage and killed at least 70&nbsp;people.<ref name="Nancy15">{{cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=The Amarillo Globe-Times|date=September 13, 1976|access-date=January 6, 2016|title=Typhoon in Japan Kills 104 Persons|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3981688//|page=27|location=Tokyo, Japan|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=The Indiana Gazette|date=September 10, 1976|access-date=January 6, 2016|title=Kyushu Hit By Raging Typhoon|page=1|location=Tokyo, Japan|volume=77|number=60|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3981563//|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref> More than 325,000&nbsp;people evacuated across the nation.<ref name="TTHR914">{{cite news|agency=[[United Press International]]|newspaper=The Times Herald Record|date=September 14, 1976|access-date=January 6, 2016|title=Typhoon kills more than 100 in Japan; 325,000 homeless|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3981866//|page=8|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref> An embankment along the [[Nagara River]] near [[Anpachi, Gifu]], collapsed on September&nbsp;12 and forced thousands of residents from their homes. Many required evacuation by boat or helicopter.<ref name="Anpachi"/> A total of 11,193&nbsp;homes were destroyed a further 442,317 sustained damage. Floods also affected {{convert|80304|ha}} of crops.<ref name="DTstats"/> Tremendous damage to infrastructure paralyzed transportation in many areas,<ref name="TLS913"/> and travel across the entire nation was disrupted for at least three days.<ref name="TTHR914"/> Hundreds of bridges were damaged or washed away.<ref name="TLS913"/>

[[File:Levee collapse of Nagara river.jpg|thumb|left|A massive levee collapsed on the Nagara River]]
Passing {{convert|110|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Okinawa, Fran produced sustained winds of {{convert|102|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} with gusts to {{convert|135|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} at [[Kadena Air Base]].<ref name="ATCR"/> Throughout Japan, 169&nbsp;people died and 435&nbsp;others were injured.<ref name="DTstats">{{cite web|work=Digital Typhoon|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|date=n.d.|access-date=January 5, 2016|title=Typhoon 197617 (Fran) – Disaster Information|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/dsummary.pl?id=197617&basin=wnp&lang=en}}</ref> Property damage exceeded US$660&nbsp;million,<ref name="HKO"/> and more than 300,000&nbsp;people were rendered homeless.<ref name="HKO">{{cite report|publisher=[[Hong Kong Observatory]]|year=1977|access-date=January 7, 2016|title=Meteorological Results 1976: Part III — Tropical Cyclone Summaries|url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc1976.pdf|pages=9–10}}</ref> Fran was regarded as the worst storm to strike Japan in 10&nbsp;years when [[Typhoon Ida (1966)|Typhoon Ida]] claimed more than 300&nbsp;lives.<ref name="ATCR"/><ref name="Anpachi">{{cite news|agency=[[United Press International]]|newspaper=Greeley Daily Tribune|date=September 13, 1976|access-date=January 6, 2016|title=Typhoon Fran rakes Japan|location=Tokyo, Japan|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3981780//|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref>

Offshore, the storms destructive winds and waves split the 52,157&nbsp;ton oil tanker ''Ryoyo Maru'' in two over the [[Bungo Channel]],<ref name="MWL_Smooth"/> anchored near [[Beppu, Ōita|Beppu]]; all 62&nbsp;crewmen were rescued safely.<ref>{{cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=The Danville Register|date=September 12, 1976|access-date=January 6, 2016|title=Typhoon Fran Casualty|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3981615//|page=10|location=Danville, Virginia|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref> Another ship, the 2,556&nbsp;ton Panamanian freighter ''JCIS'', ran aground in [[Minamata Bay]]. In [[Pohang]], South Korea, the 23,089&nbsp;ton British [[bulk carrier]] ''Eastern Freedom'' broke all its stern-side [[Mooring (watercraft)|moorings]], resulting in its propeller and rudder being damaged; a nearby Korean naval ship was also damaged. While over the Sea of Japan, Fran's extratropical remnants caused havoc among the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] fishing fleet. In all, 138&nbsp;vessels sank or were damaged by the storm.<ref name="MWL_Smooth">{{cite journal|journal=Mariners Weather Log|date=January 1977|title=Marine Weather Review – Smooth Log, North Pacific Weather: September and October 1976|pages=107–108|volume=21|issue=1|location=Washington, D.C.|editor=Elwyn E. Wilson}}</ref>

About 5,300&nbsp;members of the [[Japan Self-Defense Forces]] were mobilized for relief efforts across the nation by September&nbsp;13. A rescue helicopter crashed over [[Mikawa Bay]] during a mission, resulting in three injuries. Many people were forced to wait on their roof overnight for rescue as floodwaters swept through towns.<ref name="TLS913">{{cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=The Lincoln Star|date=September 13, 1976|access-date=January 6, 2016|title=Typhoon Damages Japan Isle|location=Tokyo, Japan|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3981842//|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
*[[1976 Pacific typhoon season]]
* [[List of wettest tropical cyclones]]
*{{section link|List of wettest tropical cyclones by country|Japan}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*{{Digital Typhoon|197617|FRAN}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fran (1976)}}
[[Category:1976 in Japan]]
[[Category:1976 Pacific typhoon season]]
[[Category:Typhoons in Guam]]
[[Category:Typhoons in Japan]]
[[Category:Typhoons in the Northern Mariana Islands]]
[[Category:September 1976 in Oceania]]