REGIONAL SUMMARY:
For the fifth week of 2023, a total of 31 disasters (earthquake, floods, landslide, storm, and wind-related) affected the region. Indonesia and the Philippines have reportedly been affected. Indonesia’s Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) reported flooding, landslide, storm and wind-related disaster events caused by moderate to heavy rainfall, overflowing of rivers, and strong winds in Aceh, Bangka Belitung, Gorontalo, West Java, Central Java, East Java, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Central Sulawesi, and M4.3 Earthquake in West Java, Indonesia. The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has also reported on flooding and landslide events caused by the localised thunderstorm and prolonged heavy rainfall in Region IX and XII, and M6.0 Earthquake in Region XI.
HIGHLIGHT:
According to BNPB, M4.0 Earthquake was reported in Garut, West Java on 1 Feb. As of 5 Feb, at 1200 HRS UTC+7, BNPB reported 932 families (1.2K people) affected. Damages includes 664 houses (642 partially, 22 totally), 9 worship places, and 9 schools. Local disaster management authorities have carried out necessary actions to address the situation.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, M6.0 Earthquake was reported in Davao de Oro on 1 Feb. According to NDRRMC, as of 6 Feb, at 1200 HRS UTC+7, at least 390 reported and 83 families (340 people) affected. Damaged includes 472 houses (468 partially, 4 totally), 3 roads, 1 bridge, and 185 infrastructures (school, church, and government offices). The Department of Social Welfare and Development has provided assistance worth 6.7K USD to the affected people.
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. As of reporting, there are areas of disturbed weather being referred to as Invest 94S and Tropical Cyclone being referred as 11S. Based on available data, Invest 94S is located approximately at 890 km southwest of Enggano Island, Indonesia. The potential for the development of a significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours is medium. Meanwhile, TC 11S is located approximately at 210 km southwest of Salura Island, Indonesia. (JTWC).
GEOPHYSICAL:
Four (4) significant earthquakes (M?5.0) were recorded in the region by Indonesia’s Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Mount Semeru (alert level III), Kerinci (Alert Level II) and Bromo (alert level II) in Indonesia according to the Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG).
OUTLOOK:
According to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), for the coming week, drier conditions are predicted over parts of the western and central Maritime Continent. Warmer than usual temperature is predicted around the eastern half of Mainland Southeast Asia and much of the Philippines. Warmer than usual temperature is also expected over parts of the western and central Maritime Continent. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a small increase in chance for a heavy rainfall event to occur in Nusa Tenggara; a moderate increase in chance for extreme hot conditions in the Central and northern Philippines, and southern Sumatra; and a small increase in chance for extreme hot conditions in the Northeastern Mainland Southeast Asia, southern Borneo, southern Sulawesi. La Niña conditions have been present. 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;
Philippines: NDRRMC, PAGASA, PHIVOLCS;
Various news agencies.
