REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the fourth week of 2023, a total of 17 disaster events (floods, landslides, storms, and an earthquake) 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 West Sumatra, Riau Islands, West Java, North and South Sulawesi, and South Kalimantan and a M4.0 Earthquake in West Java. Agensi Pengurusan Bencana (NADMA) Malaysia reported flooding and landslides in Sabah, Pahang, and Johor States. The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also reported floods caused by a Low-Pressure Area.
HIGHLIGHT:
According to NDRRMC, the effects of a Low-Pressure Area in BARMM resulted in flooding in Basilan and Maguidanao. Reports indicate 3.1K families (15.6K persons) and 150 farmers affected. 50 hectares of agricultural land were also affected. Local disaster management authorities have carried out necessary actions to address the situation.
Meanwhile, in Manado City in North Sulawesi of Indonesia, the Tondano watershed overflowed causing flooding and landslides. According to BNPB, as of 30 Jan, 5.1K families (16.7K persons) have been affected and around 2K persons have been displaced. 1.5K houses were also reported damaged (453 heavily and 660 partially). Damages to public and health facilities, infrastructures, and places of worship were also reported. The local government has established a State of Emergency in Manado City for 7 days until 2 February 2023. Evacuation and data collection are still underway by the local disaster management authorities.
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 Maritime Continent (Indonesia and Central to Southern Philippines) including Malaysia. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), currently, there are two active tropical cyclone advisories for the region: 90B and 94S but are forecasted to move away from the ASEAN region and have low potential to develop in the next 24 hours.
GEOPHYSICAL:
Ten (10) significant earthquakes (M?5.0) were recorded in the 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 Ibu (alert level II) in Indonesia, and Taal (alert level 1), Kanlaon (alert level 1), and Mayon Volcano (alert level 2) 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, wetter conditions are expected over the Maritime Continent and coastal parts of eastern Mainland Southeast Asia. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a small increase in chance for a heavy rainfall event to occur in parts of the Maritime Continent and southern Viet Nam. La Niña conditions have been present and 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;
Malaysia: NADMA;
Philippines: NDRRMC, PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, DSWD;
Various news agencies.
