REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the twenty-second week of 2024, the ASEAN region experienced 21 disasters, including floods, landslides, storms, wind-related disasters, and drought. Indonesia, 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 South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, West Sumatra, Southeast Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Riau, West Java, and Central Kalimantan, while drought was reported in East Java. Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) in Thailand reported storms and flooding incidents in Songkhla, Phayao, Nan, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son. Lastly, the Viet Nam Disaster and the Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) documented storms, floods, landslides, and wind-related disasters in the provinces of Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Yen Bai, Cao Bang, and the city of Can Tho.
HIGHLIGHT:
In Week 22, high intensity rainfall caused rivers to overflow in Katingan Regency in the Province of Central Kalimantan, as reported by the BNPB. The heavy rainfall raised the water levels in Katingan River, Senamang River, and Samba River which eventually flooded and submerged about 5.7K housing unit. The flooding affected about 12.1K families or 28.6K individuals. In addition, the floods submerged, 42 worship places, 25 office units, and 34 health facilities in eight districts in Katingan Regency. The Regent of Katingan has also declared Emergency Alert and Emergency Response Status related to the flooding disaster. Authorities continue to coordinate with related agencies and collect information on the development and impacts of the widespread flooding. Authorities have distributed aid and emergency support to the affected communities.
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, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua), Lao PDR, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah, and Sarawak), northwest and central Myanmar, southern Philippines (Luzon, Palawan, Western Visayas, Mindanao), Thailand (Northern, Northeastern, parts of Central, and Southern regions), and Viet Nam. High average rainfall concentration over the Bay of Bengal and in the Viet Nam East Sea are attributed to the development of TC REMAL and TC MALIKSI (02W), respectively. Currently, there is no active tropical disturbance being monitored in the ASEAN region (JTWC).
GEOPHYSICAL:
Eight (8) significant earthquakes (M>5.0) were recorded by Indonesia’s BMKG and the Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (JMM), and Myanmar’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH). Mount Ibu (alert level IV), Mount Semeru (alert level III), Mount Marapi (alert level III), and Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia, and Kanlaon (alert level 2), Mayon Volcano (alert level 1), Taal (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 the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
OUTLOOK:
According to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), drier conditions are predicted over much of the western Maritime Continent. Warmer than usual temperature is predicted over the Maritime Continent and the southern parts of Mainland Southeast Asia. There is a small increase in chance of heavy rainfall over parts central and eastern Mainland Southeast Asia, including Lao PDR, northern Myanmar, northern half of Viet Nam, northern Thailand. There is also a small increase in chance for upper decile rainfall over the northern parts of the Philippines. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a moderate increase in chance of extreme hot conditions over much of the Maritime Continent, including Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Maluku Islands, Papua, and much of the Philippines. There is also a small increase in chance for extreme hot conditions over southern parts of Mainland Southeast Asia, particularly over southern Viet Nam, and southern Cambodia. An El Niño is weakening and predicted to transition to ENSO neutral conditions during May 2024. At the seasonal timescale during March to May, El Niño events typically bring warmer conditions to much of the ASEAN region and drier conditions to much of the northern ASEAN region.
Sources:
ASEAN Disaster Monitoring & Response System (DMRS); ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC); Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC);
Indonesia: BNPB, BMKG, PVMBG;
Malaysia: JMM;
Myanmar: DMH;
Philippines: PHIVOLCS;
Thailand: DDPM;
Viet Nam: VDDMA;
Various news agencies.
