REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the sixteenth-week of 2024, the ASEAN region experienced 37 disasters, including floods, landslides, storms, wind-related disasters, and Volcano. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam were reportedly affected by these disasters. According to the Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) of Indonesia, floods, landslides, and strong winds occurred in Banten, Bengkulu, Central Java, East Java, Central Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, South Sumatra, and North Sumatra as well as volcanic activity by Raung Volcano in North Sulawesi. In Malaysia, Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) reported flooding in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor. Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) in Thailand reported storms and wind-related incidents in Nan, Bueng Kan, Sukhothai, Chiang Rai, Phyao, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Phetchabun, Phitchit, Sakon Nakhon, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, and Chiang Mai. Lastly, the Viet Nam Disaster and the Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) documented storms and winds in Northern and Central Region.
HIGHLIGHT:
Following the activity of Ruang Volcano since Tuesday, 16 April at 1500 HRS UTC+7, Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) elevated the status of Ruang Volcano Alert Level II to Alert Level III. Subsequently, on 17 April 2024 at 2000 HRS UTC+7, the alert level was further elevated to Level IV, signifying the highest level of concern. As of today, 22 April 2024 at 0800 HRS UTC+7, PVMBG has lowered the alert level back to Level III. During this phase, PVMBG advise individuals to refrain from entering the area within a 4 km radius from the volcano’s crater. According to the report from BNPB as of 22 April at 0000 HRS UTC+7, approximately 6K people have been displaced to Bahoi and Balehumara villages. Additionally, 679 individuals are displaced in Tugulandang Selatan, while 83 families face displacement in Tugulandang. Tugulandang Utara has also seen 6K persons displaced. BNPB also reported that 135 houses has been affected and 363 houses, 2 churches, and 1 school has been damaged. In response, BNPB has handed-offer around $21.5K USD worth of operational relief funds and other logistics needed includes IDPs tent, family tent, lighting equipment, genset, basic food, ready-to-eat food, hygiene kits, blankets, masks, velbed, mattress, portable toilet, survival kits, etc. The Ministry of Social Welfare has established public kitchens and provided psychosocial support to those impacted. The Regent of Sitaro has declared an emergency response status for 14 days from 16 to 29 April 2024. According to the report from BNPB, urgent needs also identified including masks, matrass, blankets, matt, and food.
HYDRO-METEO-CLIMATOLOGICAL:
For the past week, data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) indicates a 7-day average rainfall ranging from medium to high across Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua), Northern Lao PDR, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah, and Sarawak), northern and eastern Myanmar, southern Thailand, and Viet Nam (Central and Northern). As of reporting, there is no active tropical cyclone advisories for the ASEAN Region (JTWC).
GEOPHYSICAL:
Four (4) significant earthquakes (M>5.0) were recorded by Indonesia’s Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD), amd Myanmar’s Department Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH). Mount Semeru (alert level III), Marapi (alert level III), and Ruang (alert level III) in Indonesia, and Mayon Volcano (alert level 1), Taal (alert level 1), Kanlaon (alert level 1), and Bulusan (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 predicted over much of the central and southeastern parts of Mainland Southeast Asia and the northern parts of the Maritime Continent; wetter conditions are predicted over most of the southern half of the Maritime Continen; and warmer than usual temperature is predicted over Southeast Asia. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a small increase in chance for very heavy rainfall conditions to occurs over the parts of the southern ASEAN region; and there is a moderate increase in chance over western Maritime Continent, southern Mainland Southeast Asia, and the Philippines , and small increase in chance over much of the rest of Southeast Asia. for extreme hot conditions. An El Niño is currently present, showing signs of weakening and predicted to transition to ENSO neutral conditions during April-May 2024. At the seasonal timescale during February to April, El Niño event typically bring drier conditions to much of the ASEAN region.
Sources:
ASEAN Disaster Monitoring & Response System (DMRS); ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC); Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC);
Indonesia: BNPB, BMKG, PVMBG;
Malaysia: NADMA,
Myanmar: DMH;
Philippines: PHIVOLCS;
Thailand: DDPM, TMD;
Viet Nam: VDDMA;
Various news agencies.
