REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the eighteenth week of 2023, a total of 25 disaster events (caused by flooding, storms, and wind hazards; and landslides) were reported for the region particularly in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) reported floods caused by heavy rainfall and overflowing of rivers, landslides due to unstable soil conditions, and tornadoes. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported that severe local storms and strong winds have affected 26 of its provinces. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported impacts of a low-pressure area as well as the effects of the dry season to Western Visayas. Lastly, the Viet Nam Dyke and Disaster Management Authority (VDDMA) reported that heavy rain and thunderstorms have affected Dien Bien.
HIGHLIGHT:
According to DSWD, the low-pressure area that developed in the Philippine Sea East of Visayas, crossed the group of Islands the past week affecting 17.8K families (73.4K persons) in 233 barangays in Region VI (Eastern Visayas Region). A total of 4.3K families (18.3K persons) were internally displaced into 120 evacuation centres but the present number of IDPs staying in evacuation centres has reduced to 220 families (965 persons). 1.3K others (6.4K persons) are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends. The DSWD together with the Local Government Units have provided 54K USD worth of assistance to those affected. The AHA Centre stands ready to support the Philippines if the need arises.
HYDRO-METEO-CLIMATOLOGICAL:
For the past week, data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) showed medium to high 7-day average rainfall spreading across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua Indonesia, Eastern Malaysia, North Central Coast of Viet Nam, and central to southern portions of the Philippines. Generally low-medium rainfall was observed in Peninsular Malaysia, and Sulawesi and Java Indonesia. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), currently, there is an active tropical cyclone advisory for the region—INVEST 91B.
GEOPHYSICAL:
Seven (7) significant earthquakes (M?5.0) were recorded by Indonesia’s Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Mount Semeru (alert level III) and Ili Lewotolok (alert level II) in Indonesia, and Taal (alert level 1), Mayon Volcano (alert level 1), and Kanlaon (alert level 1) in the Philippines reported recent volcanic activity according to Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) and PHIVOLCS.
OUTLOOK:
According to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), for the coming week, warmer than usual temperatures is predicted over much of the eastern half of the Maritime continent. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a low chance for a very heavy rainfall event; moderate chance of much warmer than usual temperatures over parts of the eastern Maritime Continent, although these temperatures are mainly over the ocean regions. ENSO-neutral conditions are present. In this state, the contribution to rainfall of the ENSO is small to non-existent on a seasonal timescale but there can still be considerate variability in rainfall for the region.
Sources:
ASEAN Disaster Monitoring & Response System (DMRS); ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC); Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC);
Indonesia: BNPB, BMKG, PVMBG;
Philippines: DSWD, PHIVOLCS;
Thailand: DDPM;
Viet Nam: VDDMA;
Various news agencies.
