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Typhoon Durian Update

Friday, December 1, 2006

 

 

 

Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

 

Current Status

 

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Typhoon Durian (local name: Reming) is over the South China Sea and moving westwards, away from the Philippines. As of 2 p.m., Friday (December 1), the typhoon was 120 km (75 miles) west northwest of Oriental Mindoro province. “It is no longer a threat to any land area but we are still affected by the tail end so we will continue to experience rains,” said PAGASA, adding that it will be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility late Saturday afternoon (December 2), heading for Vietnam. The storm is the strongest to strike the country this year. (Phil Inq, Dec-1)

 

The typhoon was originally forecasted to directly hit the capital of Manila, but veered away because a high pressure area caused the typhoon to change direction, according to PAGASA. The typhoon weakened after it struck the provinces of Batangas, Marinduque and Mindoro on Friday (December 1). Durian moved westwards across the country at 15 kph (9.3 mph), slowing down after making landfall at Catanduanes and Albay province in the Bicol region on Thursday (November 30). Durian’s wind gusts reached 265 kph (165 mph) at its peak on November 30, and brought 466 mm (18.35 in) of rain in Legazpi City, the highest volume or rain recorded in Albay since 1967, according to PAGASA. (Phil Inq, Dec-01)

 

As of Friday evening, only Occidental Mindoro, Luban Island, Bataan and Cavite were under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1, the lowest of a four-step system. In its December 2 (Saturday) forecast, PAGASA issued a gale warning associated with Durian for the northern and western seaboards of northern and central Luzon, with scattered rains showers and isolated thunderstorms. (PAGASA, Dec-01)

 

According to the latest update from the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), the typhoon currently has sustained winds of 92 mph (150 kph) and gusts to 115 mph (185 kph). (JTWC, Dec-01) Vietnam has now been put on typhoon alert, as the storm is expected to hit the southern part of the country over the weekend. However, the storm is expected to weaken into a tropical storm before then. (Dec-1, VietnamNet Bridge;Reuters)

 

Impact

 

Dead/Missing

At least 388 people have been confirmed dead and at least 96 others reported missing, according to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC). According to the PNRC, all the dead are in the eastern province of Albay in the Bicol region. (AFP, Dec 1) The PNRC says that it expects the figure to go up as rescuers reach isolated areas. NDCC reports 208 dead, 82 injured, and 261 missing. (OSOCC, Dec 1) However, NDCC says the majority are in Albay, with at least 5 others in Catanduanes and three in Camarines Sur. The NDCC said the deaths in Albay occurred in Daraga, Sto. Domingo, Guinobatan, Legazpi and Tabaco. (INQ7, Dec 1) A total of 261 are missing. (OSOCC, Dec-1) Elsewhere in the country, at least one other person was killed in the town of Canaman by flying debris, the civil defense office said. (AFP, Dec 1)

 

Affected

455,593 persons, or 93,582 families from 694 villages of 67 municipalities and 6 cities in 11 provinces, have been affected by the typhoon. (NDCC, Dec 2)

 

Evacuees: 29,790 people (5,612 families) (NDCC, Dec 2)

 

Damaged houses: 24,545 totally and 80,532 partially (NDCC, Dec 2)

 

Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council says that from just six of Camarine Sur’s 35 towns, some 24,909 families needed to be housed in evacuation centers.

 

Marinduque (an island province) Governor says that the DSWD reported that more than 40,000 families were affected. Governor says that more than 80% of the population is affected (OSOCC, Dec 1)

 

The civil defense office said that more than 13,900 people had been evacuated in the Bicol region. (AFP, Dec 1)

 

Mayon Volcano

Mudflows triggered by heavy rains buried at least eight villages on the slopes of Mount Mayon volcano in Albay province, killing at least 388 people, according to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC). Another 96 are still reportedly missing. The NDCC, however, is estimating about 200 dead. According to the Albay Governor on Friday evening (December 1), about 108 bodies were recovered from villages around Santo Domingo and Daraga towns, which have combined populations of 128,423. However, the Red Cross said that the death toll was being recounted every hour.

 

The landslides began on 3 p.m. on Thursday (November 30) and lasted about 3 hours. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the mudslides were formed from sediments and boulders deposited from previous eruptions. It said that it is yet to be determined if the mudflow could be considered lahar, which is composed of at least 20 percent sediment. Anything less is considered mudflows. Rescue efforts around the area have been hampered by blocked roads, and power, phone and water outages throughout the Bicol peninsula. (ABS-CBN, Phil Inq, Dec-01,02)

 

Infrastructure damage

According to UN’s OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), flood waters reportedly reached 10 feet (3 meters) in some areas. Rescue efforts are being hampered by storm damage which knocked out electricity, telephone lines and the water supply across much of Bicol which includes Legaspi City and Daraga. Legaspi airport experienced some damages and was shut down. (AFP, Dec-01)

 

DPWH says that national roads are impassable to all types of vehicles and are conducting road clearing operations. (NDCC, Dec 1)

 

About 10,000 houses in Bicol and Southern Tagalog were either blown down by the typhoon or were damaged. (INQ7, Dec 1) Civil defense officials say that 90 percent of Bicol homes were destroyed. The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) in Camarines Sur reported that 6,256 houses in six towns were destroyed and 15,678 partially damaged. (INQ7, Dec 1)

 

PDCC says that from just six of Camarine Sur’s 35 towns, 6,356 houses totally damaged with another 15,678 partially damaged.

 

NDCC reports two major transmission lines, Naga-Tayabas line and Gumaca-Labo line, were totally damaged and tripped off 10 sub-transmission lines in the Bicol region. National Transmission Corporation (Transco) reported total power loss in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon Provinces in Region V; No electricity in some parts of Batangas, Laguna and Quezon provinces. (NDCC, Dec 1)

 

Economic damage

Public Works Department put initial estimates of damage to infrastructure in Bicol at 1 billion pesos (US$20.1 billion) (AFP, Dec 1)

 

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap says farmers had suffered around 500 million pesos (US$10 million) in losses. Durian swept through coconut, rice and hemp growing regions. Crop damage from previous storms this year cut third-quarter economic growth. (Reuters, Dec 1)

 

PNRC head notes that most of the areas hit by Durian have been battered by previous typhoons and that most of the local governments had used up their calamity funds.

 

Transport

Philippine Coast Guard reported the number of stranded passengers climbed to over 5,000 by Friday morning, and the number of stranded vehicles to 383. Officials say that Mindanao-bound sea travelers stranded in Manila were finally allowed to board their ships on Friday. Two Super ferry ships headed to Davao and Ozamis City were still awaiting travel clearance from PAGASA. (INQ7, Dec 1)

 

Philippine Airlines (PAL) says it will mount 87% of its scheduled 84 flights between Manila and 18 provincial points on Friday, and will also operate all 45 planned flights between Manila, Cebu and 20 international points, the airline said in a statement. (INQ7, Dec 1)

 

Priority Needs and Requirements

 

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) says the following are needed for the Bicol region [Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon provinces (Region V)]:

 

Drinking water, medical teams and social workers, medicines, cadaver bags, food, blankets, temporary shelter, as well as helicopters for aerial surveys and rescue teams with canine capability. (NDCC, Dec-01)

 

Government Response

 

President Gloria Arroyo on December 1 ordered the Department of Budget and Management to set aside as much as 1 billion pesos (US$20.17 million) for relief and rehabilitation efforts. (INQ7, Dec 1)

 

In a meeting with disaster relief officials, President Arroyo called on the military and police to help with relief efforts to back-up overwhelmed relief agencies.

 

NDCC Operational readiness

At least 40 military rescuers were flown out from the capital, to the Mayon area by helicopter. A C-130 transport plane, with equipment and rescuers is due to fly out of the area at first light Saturday (December 2). Rescuers plan to bring in search dogs. (AFP, Dec 1)

 

Department of Health provided compact food, cadaver bags, medicines (OSOCC, Dec 1)

 

Department of Social Welfare Department provided relief consisting of tents, canned goods, etc., and 5,700 sacks of rice. (OSOCC, Dec 1)

 

Government geologists will assess environmental damage and the possibility of additional mudflows from Mount Mayon. (OCHA, Dec 1)

 

NDCC will field a national assessment team on Saturday (December 2). NDCC also reports that efforts are underway to clear roads for response teams (OCHA, Dec 1)

 

The deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense said that officials ordered the evacuation of coastal areas before Durian struck. Around 1,500 civilians were evacuated to emergency shelters ahead of the typhoon in Naga, located about 167 miles (103 km) southeast of Manila. A total of 166 families or 847 persons were affected/evacuated in Legaspi City (where widespread flooding was reported) Albay, Libmanan, Camarines Sur and Virac, Catanduanes. The local government in Catanduanes and nearby provinces evacuated hundreds of residents from low-lying areas.

 

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) pre-positioned mobility assets in Catanduanes, including helicopters and light transport vehicles.

 

The Department of Health (DOH) activated regional operation centers with standby medical teams, ready for mobilization.

 

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) activated Emergency Management Teams (EMTs) and Quick Action and Response Teams (QUARTs) for technical assistance and resource augmentation. DSWD has stand-by funds worth P10,947,801 (US$220,344) and stockpiles of relief commodities worth P2,376,281 (US$47,826).

 

National Response

 

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) has sent two assessment teams to Legazpi City, Daraga and Sto. Domingo towns around Mount Mayon in Albay province. PNRC has also sent 500 cadaver bags to the areas. (ABS-CBN, Dec-02)

 

East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve, a regional NGO, has allocated 197,500 pesos 9US$3,984) worth of rice. (NDCC, Dec-01)

 

International Response

 

The Philippine government will decide whether international aid is required on Saturday, December 2. (Dec-01, UN)

 

United Nations (UN) on Friday (December 1) offered full support to the Philippines following the typhoon. NDCC has asked the UN to provide satellite imagery of areas hit by landslides. UN will field a national assessment team on Saturday (Dec-02), and results will be made known the same day. (Dec-01, UN)

 

Background

 

Typhoon Durian is the fourth typhoon to strike the Philippines in as many months. In late September, Typhoon Xangsane (local name: Milenyo) cut across Luzon, leaving over 250 people dead in the Philippines and Vietnam. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines since 1998. Like Durian, Xangsane had cut through southern Luzon and northern Visayas. It caused millions of dollars in damage to the Philippines and some damaged areas are still recovering from the effects of Xangsane. In October, powerful Typhoon Cimaron (local name: Paeng) killed 19 people and injured 58 others. Earlier in November, Typhoon Chebi (local name: Queenie) cut through Luzon, killing one person.

 

The largest numbers of casualties have been caused by landslides or floods caused by typhoons. In 1991, more than 5,000 people died in the central island of Leyte in floods triggered by Typhoon Thelma. In 2004, a series of typhoons and tropical storms left about 1,800 people dead or missing, including 480 who were killed when mudslides struck three towns in eastern Quezon province in the Luzon region.

 

Around 20 typhoon and tropical storms strike the Philippines each year. The Philippine typhoon season generally coincides with the annual wet season from June to November, although there are occasional typhoons in December.