REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the first week of 2023, a total of 31 disasters (1 earthquake, 18 floods, 6 landslides, and 6 wind-related) affected the region. Indonesia and the Philippines have reportedly been affected. Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) reported floods, landslides, and wind-related disaster events caused by moderate to heavy rainfall, overflowing of rivers and strong winds in Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, West Sulawesi, and South Sulawesi, and M4.9 Earthquake in Papua, Indonesia. The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has also reported on floods, strong winds, and rain-induced landslides in Region II, III, V, VI, VIII, X, XI, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and BARMM.
HIGHLIGHT:
According to NDRRMC, on 4 Jan 2023, the Low-Pressure Area brought continuous light to moderate with at times heavy rains that caused flooding in several municipalities in MIMAROPA. As of 8 Jan, at 1200 HRS UTC+7, NDRRMC reported that the flooding has resulted in 21.3K families (105K persons) affected and 43K people displaced to 64 evacuation centres. Damages include 59 houses (11 partially, 48 totally), 20 road sections, and 8 bridges. A total of 139K USD worth of assistance have been provided to the affected communities in Oriental Mindoro and Palawan. Meanwhile, in Region III, flooding caused by light to moderate with occasional heavy rains were experienced in the region due to the Shear Line and Northeast Monsoon from 6-8 Jan. According to NDRRMC, as of 8 Jan, at 1900 HRS UTC+7, a total of 26.5K families (103,1K persons) were affected and at least 14.2K persons were displaced in 82 evacuation centres. As of reporting, 39.5K USD worth of assistance have been provided to the affected communities in Aurora, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija.
HYDRO-METEO-CLIMATOLOGICAL:
For the past week, data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) showed high 7-day average rainfall spreading across Central Java, Northern and Central Kalimantan, Southern Sulawesi, and Bangka Belitung in Indonesia; most of the Philippines; and Central Coast of Viet Nam. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), there are no active tropical cyclone advisories as of reporting.
GEOPHYSICAL:
Three (3) significant earthquakes (M>5.0) were recorded in the region by Indonesia’s Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Mount Semeru (alert level III), Anak Krakatau (alert level III), and Marapi (alert level II) in Indonesia, and Taal (alert level 1), Kanlaon (alert level 1), Bulusan (alert level 1), and Mayon Volcano (alert level 2) in the Philippines reported recent volcanic activity according to the Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) and PHIVOLCS.
OUTLOOK:
According to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), for the coming week, wetter conditions are expected over much of southeastern Mainland Southeast Asia and the Philippines. Drier conditions are predicted over parts of the southern Maritime Continent. Warmer than usual temperature is predicted around central and northeastern Mainland Southeast Asia. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a small increase in chance for a heavy rainfall event to occur in Southeastern Mainland Southeast Asia, central and southern Philippines. La Niña conditions have been present. At the seasonal timescale, La Niña events tend to bring wetter 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;
Philippines: NDRRMC, PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, DSWD;
Various news agencies.