REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the seventeenth week of 2023, a total of 21 disaster events (caused by flooding, storms, and wind hazards; and landslides and earthquakes) were reported for the region particularly in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The National Committee on Disaster Management (NCDM) of Cambodia reported the collapse of a riverbank. Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) reported floods caused by heavy rainfall, landslides due to unstable soil conditions, severe local storms, and tornadoes. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported that severe local storms and strong winds have affected 39 of its provinces. The Viet Nam Dyke and Disaster Management Authority (VDDMA) reported that storms and floods have affected northern provinces.
HIGHLIGHT:
According to BNPB, prolonged heavy rainfall has caused flooding in Cilacap Regency in Central Java. The reported flooding has affected 14.1K families (56.3K people) particularly in Cilacap Utara, Cilacap Selatan, and Cilacap Tengah Subdistricts. The floods also caused the internal displacement of 221 people and for 14.1K houses to be damaged. The disaster is still within the local capacity to respond. Rapid assessments, evacuation, and other necessary action have been undertaken by the responsive authorities.
According to DDPM, thunderstorms, winds, and hail have affected 5.6K families (16.9K persons) across 39 provinces. 5.6K houses have been damaged. DDPM continues to conduct assessments, evacuation, and necessary actions to address the situation. The AHA Centre stands ready to support BNPB and DDPM if the need arises.
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, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and central to southern portions of the Philippines. Generally low-medium rainfall was observed in Mainland Southeast Asia. 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) and Dukono (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 predicted over much of central and eastern Mainland Southeast Asia, as well as northern parts of the Philippines. Wetter conditions are also predicted over much of the Maritime Continent. Warmer than usual temperatures is predicted over much of the eastern half of the Maritime Continent and Mainland Southeast Asia. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a small increase in chance of very heavy rainfall over parts of Sumatra, Java, and the Maluku Islands; there is a moderate increase in chance of much warmer than usual temperatures over parts of eastern Mainland Southeast Asia, including Lao PDR and northern Viet Nam, as well as coastal parts of Myanmar. The tropical Pacific Ocean is now in ENSO neutral state. In this state, the contribution to rainfall of the ENSO is small to non-existent on a seasonal timescale.
Sources:
ASEAN Disaster Monitoring & Response System (DMRS); ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC); Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC);
Cambodia: NCDM;
Indonesia: BNPB, BMKG, PVMBG;
Philippines: DSWD, PHIVOLCS;
Thailand: DDPM;
Viet Nam: VDDMA;
Various news agencies.
