REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the ninth week of 2022, a total of 33 disasters (22 floods, 3 landslides, 5 wind-related, and 3 storms) affected the region. Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand have reportedly been affected. Rain-induced landslides, several localised high-intensity rainfall that caused rivers to overflow resulting in floods, heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds, and tornadoes were reported by Indonesia’s Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB). The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that high intensity rainfall due to a low pressure area caused flooding and subsequently flooding which caused a landslide in Lanao del Norte. Lastly, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported that windstorms affected Sakon Nakhon, Phichit, and Chiayaphum provinces. According to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), La Niña conditions are still present in the Pacific and at the seasonal timescale, La Niña events bring wetter conditions to much of the ASEAN region.
HIGHLIGHT:
According to BNPB, flooding in Banten (Serang Reegncy, Serang City, and Pandeglang Regency) on 1 Mar reportedly resulted in 33K persons affected, 8.8K persons displaced, 9.8K houses damaged, and 5 deaths. Meanwhile, in East Java, from 1-4 Mar, heavy rainfall, the overflowing of rivers and an irrigation channel caused floods in several areas that resulted in 40.9K persons affected, 450 displaced, and 11.2K houses damaged. In West Java, heavy rainfall, the overflowing of rivers, and a tornado resulted in 12.2K persons affected, 75 displaced, and 3.1K houses damaged. Local disaster management agencies coordinated with relevant authorities and agencies to conduct necessary monitoring, assessments, and other actions in response to the disasters in the cities and regencies.
HYDRO-METEO-CLIMATOLOGICAL:
For the past week, data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) showed high 7-day average rainfall in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, areas in Papua and North Sumatra of Indonesia. Sparse moderate rainfall can be observed across Sumatra, Kalimantan and Eastern Malaysia, and Central and Southern Philippines. As of reporting, there is no tropical cyclone advisory (JTWC).
GEOPHYSICAL:
Seven (7) significant earthquakes (M?5.0) were recorded in the region by Indonesia’s Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG). Mount Semeru (Alert Level III), Ibu (Alert Level II), and Dukono (Alert Level II) in Indonesia and Taal Volcano (Alert Level 2) and Mount Kanlaon (Alert Level 1) 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 ASMC, for the coming week, wetter conditions are expected over much of the Philippines, northern Borneo, northern Sulawesi, western Maritime Continent and possibly over north to southern parts of Mainland Southeast Asia. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a moderate increase in chance for a very heavy rainfall event in central and southern Philippines, northeastern Borneo, Sumatra, southern parts of Mainland Southeast Asia; for extreme hot conditions, there is a small increase in chance in the northern parts of Myanmar.
Sources:
ASEAN Disaster Monitoring & Response System (DMRS); ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC); Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC)
Indonesia: BNPB, BMKG, PVMBG;
Philippines: NDRRMC, PHIVOLCS;
Thailand: DDPM;
Various news agencies