REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the fifteenth week of 2023, a total of 9 disasters (floods, landslides, storms, and tornado) affected the region. Indonesia and the Philippines have reportedly been affected. Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) reported floods caused by moderate to heavy rainfall in Lampung, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Java. Landslides due to the combination of heavy rainfall and unstable soil conditions were also experienced in Central Sulawesi and West Java. The Philippines’ Disaster Response Operations Monitoring Information Center (DROMIC) reported that Tropical Depression 90W (local name: AMANG), affected multiple regions (Region V, XI, and MIMAROPA) bringing flash floods, strong winds, and severe local storms.
HIGHLIGHT:
According to DROMIC, a low-pressure area that started to develop on 9 April 2023 progressed into a Tropical Depression that later impacted Regions V and MIMAROPA which has then dissipated around 14 April as it tracked towards the Eastern seaboard of Luzon. According to DROMIC, 37.5K families (135K persons) were affected in 233 barangays in Regions V, XI, and MIMAROPA. A total of 598 persons were also reportedly internally displaced, 163 of which are temporarily staying with relatives and friends and 435 others, in 18 evacuation centres in Region V. A total of 125.7K USD worth of assistance have been provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government units to those affected by the disaster. Local authorities continue to conduct assessments and necessary actions to address the situation. The AHA Centre stands ready to assist the Philippines.
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 the Philippine Sea and the easter portion of the Philippines attributed to the development of INVEST 90W (local name: TD AMANG). Generally low rainfall was observed in Mainland Southeast Asia and portions of low-medium across Indonesia. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), currently, there are no active tropical cyclone advisories for the region.
GEOPHYSICAL:
Eight (8) 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) 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, drier conditions are expected over much of Mainland Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula and parts of the central Maritime Continent. Warmer than usual temperatures are predicted over much of Mainland Southeast Asia and the Malay Peninsula in line with the predicted drier conditions over these regions. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a small increase in chance for a very heavy rainfall event to occur in parts of the Southern Maritime Continent; very likely extreme hot conditions in parts of northern and eastern Mainland Southeast Asia. The tropical Pacific Ocean is now in ENSO neutral state. Therefore, average rainfall conditions can be expected although, the effects of the already gone La Niña on sea surface temperatures could persist for the next month.
Sources:
ASEAN Disaster Monitoring & Response System (DMRS); ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC); Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC);
Indonesia: BNPB, BMKG, PVMBG;
Philippines: DROMIC, PAGASA; PHIVOLCS, DSWD;
Various news agencies.
