The West Pacific has proved to be the prime location this year for tropical storms.

Typhoon Wipha swept through Japan on Oct. 16, leaving hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed and causing 15 deaths, with dozens more missing.

Neena Saith, senior meteorologist at catastrophic risk modeler RMS, says October has been a “remarkably active for typhoon activity in the West Pacific,” with six tropical storms and four typhoons.

Saith says October 1984 produced the largest number of storms in the West Pacific—eight, with 27 named storms that year. There have been 25 named storms in 2013 thus far, she reports.

China has hit recently by Typhoon Fitow and the Philippines and Vietnam were struck by Typhoon Nari this month.

Saith says flooding has been the main driver of loss. Heavy damage to property and infrastructure has been reported in Shanghai, China and Da Nang, Vietnam, she adds.

Typhoon Wipha on Oct. 16 struck Izu Oshima island hardest, missing the capital of Tokyo by less than 100 miles.

Mudslides buried residents and destroyed homes.

Though it avoided the strongest impact from the storm, Tokyo experienced heavy delays at airports and train stations.

Modeler AIR Worldwide says wind damage is typically covered by standard insurance policies in Japan, but flood damage is not. Coverage for flooding can be bought as an add-on or as part of a comprehensive policy, but take up rates are low.

Special Reports /

Tokyo Escapes Typhoon Wipha, Latest Storm of Busy West Pacific

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