REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the thirteenth-week of 2024, the ASEAN region experienced 29 disasters, including floods, landslides, storms, and wind-related disasters. Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam were reportedly affected by these disasters. According to the Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) of Indonesia, floods and landslides occurred in West Nusa Tenggara, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra. In the Philippines, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) documented storms in Abra and Cotabato. Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) in Thailand reported storms and wind-related incidents in various provinces across the Northern, North-eastern, and Eastern Regions. Lastly, the Viet Nam Disaster and the Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) documented storms and winds in several provinces across Northwest, Northeast, and Central Coast Region.
HIGHLIGHT:
In Viet Nam, VDDMA has reported thunderstorms accompanied by tornadoes and lightning in several provinces since 28 March. The affected areas include Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue. As of the VDDMA report released on 30 March, these disasters have resulted in injuries to two individuals in Phu Tho and Lao Cai. The damages reported include 2.2K houses, 2.4K hectares of agricultural land, 253 hectares of forestry, 108 livestock, and 0.12 hectares of fishponds. Relevant government authorities are actively addressing the situation by conducting damage assessments and mobilising resources to support the affected communities. Meanwhile, in Thailand, a low-pressure area over upper Thailand, combined with south and southeasterly winds over the Gulf of Thailand, has caused storms and strong winds in several provinces across the Northern, Northeastern, and Eastern regions since 28 March. According to the DDPM, these events have resulted in the loss of one life, injuries to over 15 people, and damage to more than 4K houses. Local government authorities have taken necessary actions to address the situation.
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 Islands, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua), Lao PDR, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah, and Sarawak), Thailand (Northeastern), and Viet Nam (Central and Northern). As of reporting, there is no active tropical cyclone advisories for the ASEAN Region (JTWC).
GEOPHYSICAL:
Three (3) significant earthquakes (M>5.0) were recorded by Indonesia’s Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Mount Semeru (alert level III) and Marapi (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 anticipated across central and southern Mainland Southeast Asia, as well as in the northern parts of the Maritime Continent. Conversely, wetter conditions are expected over much of the southern half of the Maritime Continent. Additionally, temperatures are predicted to be warmer than usual across most of Southeast Asia. For the regional assessment of extremes,
there is a small increase in chance of heavy rainfall over parts of Sumatra, western Borneo, and Papua. Meanwhile, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and the Maluku Islands face a moderate increase in the chance of very heavy rainfall. For extreme heat conditions, there is very likely in central and southern parts of Mainland Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and the Malay Peninsula. Furthermore, there is a moderate increase in chance of extreme heat conditions across much of the rest of Southeast Asia. An El Niño is currently present, showing signs of weakening and predicted to transition to ENSO neutral 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;
Philippines: NDRRMC, PHIVOLCS, DSWD;
Thailand: DDPM;
Viet Nam: VDDMA;
Various news agencies.
