REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the twelfth week of 2023, a total of 26 disasters (floods, landslides, storms, tornado, and lava flow) affected the region. Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have reportedly been affected. Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) reported floods caused by moderate to heavy rainfall, and overflowing of rivers in North Sumatra and Riau, West and Central Java, Banten, Gorontalo, North Sulawesi, and West, South, and East Kalimantan and cold lava flow from Semeru. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported that windstorms affected multiple provinces in the Northwest portion of the country. The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also reported floods in Misamis Oriental of Region X. Lastly, Agensi Pengurusan Bencana (NADMA) Malaysia reported flooding and in Sibu in Sarawak State.
HIGHLIGHT:
According to DDPM, the storms caused by the low pressure in the upper parts of Thailand from 18-21 March 2023 resulted in 4.1K families (14,176 persons) and 4.1K houses affected. The provinces of Chiang Rai, Phrae, Lampang, Nan, Chiang Mai, Tak, and Loei. DDPM has carried out necessary actions such as rapid assessment, continuous monitoring, and evacuation to address the situation.
On another note, according to BNPB, heavy rainfall resulted in flooding in Dompu Regency in West Nusa Tenggara and affected 2K families (10.1K persons) and 2K houses. Local authorities have carried out rapid assessment and evacuation to address the situation.
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 Indonesia and Eastern Malaysia. Generally low rainfall was observed in Mainland Southeast Asia and the Philippines. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), currently, there are no active tropical cyclone advisories for the region.
GEOPHYSICAL:
Three (3) 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), Anak Krakatau (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, drier conditions are expected over much of the northern ASEAN region extending further southwards to the Malay Peninsula. Warmer than usual temperatures are expected over central and eastern Mainland southeast Asia and northern Philippines in line with the predicted drier conditions. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a low chance for a very heavy rainfall event to occur; small increase in chance for extreme hot conditions in parts of central and northern Mainland Southeast Asia, and northern Philippines. La Niña conditions continue to weaken, which at the seasonal timescale bring wetter conditions to much of the Maritime Continent during this time of year.
Sources:
ASEAN Disaster Monitoring & Response System (DMRS); ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC); Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC);
Indonesia: BNPB, BMKG, PVMBG;
Malaysia: NADMA;
Philippines: NDRRMC, PHIVOLCS;
Thailand: DDPM;
Various news agencies.
