PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN)
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Typhoon Durian Update

Thursday, December 7, 2006

 

 

 

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

 

Current Status

 

Relief and recovery operations continued today (Thursday, December 7) in areas affected by Typhoon Durian (local name: Reming) in the southern part of the northern Luzon region, as weather forecasters warned of a new tropical storm heading towards the central Visayas region. Philippine officials say that up to 1,316 people are dead or missing from landslides triggered by Durian last week. At least 570 people have been confirmed dead, while another 746 people are missing, according to the latest National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) figures on December 6 (Wednesday). Most of the casualties were reported in areas around Mount Mayon in Albay province, were more than 700 villages were buried. The NDCC reports that over 1.6 million people in 132 municipalities and 11 cities in 13 provinces have been affected. In addition, there are over 80,000 evacuees in 273 designated evacuation centers. Damage is now estimated at 1.27 billion pesos (US$25.7 million) [including over 1.01 billion pesos (US$24.4 million) to infrastructure and over 251 million pesos (US$4.9 million) to agriculture]. The NDCC said on Wednesday that priority actions include coordinating relief assistance, sustaining relief operations, and formulating and developing an early recovery plan. Disaster response operations have reportedly moved into the recovery of bodies, and the restoration of roads, electricity, water and telephone networks to facilitate aid operations. Officials have said that it could take months to restore power to affected areas, especially in the badly-hit Bicol region. The National Transmission Corp. (Transco) said today it would cost 1 billion pesos (US$20.2 million) to rehabilitate power lines, and the earliest restoration could take place by mid-December. Yesterday, the government also said it was considering the massive relocation of villagers living on the slopes of Mayon. Reports say that around 69,000 families in the Bicol region need to be relocated, which would cost 5 billion pesos (US$101 million). Meanwhile, international assistance from foreign governments, the UN, and aid agencies continued. The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that officials should ensure caring for survivors, instead of mobilizing limited resources for mass burials for hundreds of dead bodies. WHO said that survivors are more likely to be sources of disease, rather than dead bodies, making proper hygiene and clean facilities a priority for those in evacuations centers. The WHO also said that bodies should also be properly identified and stored. A UN Disaster Assistance and Coordination (UNDAC) team was not deployed to the region, since the government did not request international search and rescue assistance. However, a UN inter-agency assessment team led by UNICEF was deployed to Albay on December 5. Meanwhile, forecasters have issued a warning for a tropical storm Utor (local name: Seniang), which is forecast to make landfall as a typhoon on Saturday (December 9) in the central Visayas region, south of the areas affected by Durian in Luzon. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), the storm currently has winds of 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots. (Phil Inq, Reliefweb, NDCC, Dec-06,07)

 

Impact

 

Affected: 1,662,467 persons in 1,788 barangays in 132 municipalities in Regions IV-A (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal provinces), IV-B (Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon provinces) and V (Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon provinces). (NDCC, Dec-06)

 

Evacuees: 80,494 displaced people in 273 designated evacuation centers (NDCC, Dec-06)

 

Damaged houses: 79,337 totally and 166,954 partially (NDCC, Dec-06)

 

Affected areas:

 

Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, parts of Camarines Norte and Sur, Marinduque, Batangas, Quezon and Luzon.

 

Areas declared under state of calamity: Albay, Marinduque and Carmines Sur provinces.

 

While there has been a heavier loss of lives in Albay province, reports indicate that infrastructure and property damage are heavier in Catanduanes province. (Dec-03, OCHA)

 

Infrastructure damage

 

Infrastructure damage estimated at 1.01 billion pesos. (Dec-6, NDCC)

 

The National Transmission Corp. (Transco) has set a “sentimental target” of restoring all power lines in Bicol by Christmas by setting up a temporary Emergency Restoration Systems. Estimated cost is 1 billion pesos. It would take at least two more weeks to restore power in Albay and Legazpi City. Power in Sorsogon and Naga-Tiwi lines would be restarted on December 16 and Naga-Labor lines on December 28. (Phil Inq, Dec-07) 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)

 

Main roads in affected provinces have been cleared, however, widespread power and communications outages remain in most affected areas; disruption of water supply also remains a major concern. (Dec-03, OCHA)

 

Department of Public Works & Highways (DPWH) conducting clearing operations in Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Catanduanes. (Dec-04, NDCC)

 

According to UN’s OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), flood waters reportedly reached 10 feet (3 meters) in some areas. (AFP, Dec-01)

 

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)

 

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said that damage to agriculture was estimated at 330 million pesos (US$6.4 million) in Albay alone. (Phil-Inq, Dec 6)

 

Economic damage

 

NDCC says agriculture damage estimated at over 251 million pesos (US$4.9 million). (Dec-06, NDCC)

 

 

Priority Needs and Requirements

 

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Priority Actions:

1.)   Coordinating international and national relief assistance

2.)   Sustaining emergency relief operations in all critical and affected areas

3.)   Formulate and develop early recovery plan (beyond relief) in areas affected by typhoons Durian, Xangsane and Cimaron. (Dec-06, NDCC)

 

NDCC Priority Needs:

a.)   Water and Sanitation: Provision of drinking water and water purifying tablets

b.)  Health: Medical teams, social workers and medicines

c.)   Food: Relief goods such as rice, noodles, sardines etc.

d.)  Non-food: Blankets, mattresses

e.)   Emergency: Shelter, tents

f.)    Logistics and communications (Dec-06, OCHA)

 

Government Response

 

President Arroyo declared state of national calamity on December 3 (Sunday), and authorized 1 billion pesos (US$20.17 million) for the effects of the three successive Durian (Reming), Cimarron (Paeng) and Xangsane (Milenyo) typhoons. (OCHA, Dec-03)

 

Search of bodies and relief activities still ongoing. Government engineering units clearing secondary and tertiary roads; local search and retrieval teams have been deployed to affected areas; national agencies conducting inter-agency needs assessments ongoing. (OCHA, Dec-05)

 

Estimated cost of assistance by NDCC, DSWD, DOH, Local government units (LGUs), NGOs and other GOs amount to 34,360,236 pesos. (NDCC, Dec-06)

 

NDCC and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) facilitated seven sorties carrying relief goods, manpower and equipment to Virac, Catanduanes and Legaspi City, Albay via the Philippine Air Force for Operation Blessing. (NDCC, Dec-06) NDCC will field a national assessment team on Saturday (December 2). (OCHA, Dec 1)

 

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed food and NFIs (leftover stocks from Korea and China) to Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Quezon provinces (NDCC, Dec-06) Activated Emergency Management Teams (EMTs) and Quick Action and Response Teams (QUARTs) for technical assistance and resource augmentation.

 

Department of Health sent four teams conducting rapid health assessment and disease surveillance. Distributed medicines, medical supplies and body bags to Bicol region, amounting to over 1.6 million pesos. (NDCC, Dec-06)

 

Philippine Navy Ship delivering relief goods to island province of Mindoro. (OCHA, Dec-03) At least 40 military rescuers were flown out from the capital, to the Mayon area by helicopter. Rescuers plan to bring in search dogs. (AFP, Dec 1) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) pre-positioned mobility assets in Catanduanes, including helicopters and light transport vehicles.

 

Vice President Noli de Castro ordered housing agencies to impose six-month moratorium on housing loan payments in affected areas. National Housing Authority preparing inventory of resettlement sites in affected provinces. (Phil Inq, Dec-07)

 

Manila councilors sending water-purifying stations to Legazpi City, Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan and Sto. Domingo towns, as well as 5-10 million pesos in aid. (Phil Inq, Dec-07)

 

National Response

 

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) conducting coordination with local PDCC (Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council) and local government units (LGUs). Serving 845 families in five evacuation centers in Daraga, Albay. (NDCC, Dec-06)

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) since Friday (Dec 1) provided emergency food relief to some 9,000 people. Similar assistance expected to be provided to another 7,500 people on Tuesday (Dec 5). PNRC prepared to provide around 40,000 with non-food items when assessments finished. Emergency Response Unit being mobilized to provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. (Dec-5, PNRC)

 

International Response

 

The Philippine government said that it is willing to accept offers of assistance from foreign governments, aid agencies and the UN. (Dec-03, OCHA)

 

NDCC stated on Sunday (December 3) that there is no need for international search and rescue teams. Relief items are also available in the country and can be purchased locally. (Dec-03, OCHA)

 

United Nations

 

A UN inter-agency assessment team has been deployed in Albay province. (Dec-5, OCHA) NDCC has asked the United Nations to provide satellite imagery of areas hit by landslides. (Dec-01, UN)

 

UNICEF Led UN inter-agency assessment team to Albay on 5 December and provided 4,000 family packs consisting of rice, canned goods, mattress, blankets) and medicines (Dec-5, OCHA) UNICEF is working on the assumption that 45 percent of those affected are likely to be children. (Dec-5, UNNS) Mobilized over US$300,000, and sent relief supplies for 10,000 people for three months. (Dec-04, UNICEF)

 

UNOCHA is considering an application for funding from the Central Emergency response Fund (CERF) for purchase of emergency supplies. (Dec-5, OCHA) Has provided US$1-2 million for local purchase of relief supplies. (Dec-04, NDCC)

 

UNRC is in close contact with the NDCC and offered full UN support in facilitating international assistance (Dec-5, OCHA)

 

World Health Organization (WHO) giving priority to distributing potable water as well as water purification tablets. At government’s request, WHO will furnish water purification equipment and is pre-positioning emergency health kits to care for 10,000 people for three months. (Dec-5, UNNS) WHO says officials must ensure care for survivors instead of shifting resources to mass burials, in an attempt to dispel the belief that corpses breed disease. (Dec-7, INQ7)

 

NGOs/IOs

 

Action by Churches Together (ACT) reports that Christian Aid, through its implementing partners, is planning oto join with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) in an ACT Appeal to provide assistance. Sent US$50,000 to National Council of Churches in the Philippines. (Dec-6, ACT)

 

Australian Aid International (AAI) has deployed a DART to Bicol, Luzon. The team will contain doctors, nurses, paramedics and public health workers. (Dec-4, AAI)

 

CARE using US$70,000 from its emergency response fund. Assessing damage in Catanduanes and Albay. Planning to dispatch emergency experts from offices in region and CARE emergency group in Geneva. (Dec-7, CARE) provided relief to 1,000 affected families and sent assessment team to Albay. (Dec-04, CARE)

 

Catholic Relief Services announced that it committed US$500,000 to provide emergency relief and recovery assistance. CRS is working closely with Caritas Philippines in assessing the damage.

 

Christian Aid committed an initial US$102,000. (Dec-6, CA)

 

Christian Blind Mission and local partners assisting in relief. (Dec-6, CBM)

 

Christian Children’s Fund is establishing a Child Centered Space in Pili where greatest number of children affected by the storm. CCF did initial damage assessment in affected areas. (Dec-5, CCF)

 

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) says it is preparing response. (Dec-5, CRWRC)

 

International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has dispatched a FACT team to support the PRCS in assessing the situation. Deployed two specialized assessment teams to the region. (Dec-5, OCHA) IFRC sent out its latest appeal of US$ 7,318,798 to support the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) to assist 200,000 beneficiaries for nine months. (IFRC, Dec-04) IFRC released initial emergency assistance of 100,000 Swiss Francs (US$83,769). (OCHA, Dec-03) Netherlands Red Cross pledged 40,000 Euros (US$53,339). (OCHA, Dec-03)

 

Lutheran World Relief is responding to the situation with US$15,000 contribution through ACT. (Dec-7, LWR)

 

Oxfam is sending out public health experts to assist staff on the ground. Immediate response is in Albay province, where Oxfam is trucking in clean water and distributing emergency items to 30,000 people. (Dec-5, Oxfam)

 

Save the Children is mobilizing an initial response. Two alliance members, SC United States and SC Sweden have worked together during the Leyte mudslide. (Dec-7, SC)

 

Telecoms Sans Frontieres (TSF) sent two representatives to Catanduanes to re-establish communications. (Dec-04, NDCC)

 

UAE Red Crescent Society offered material aid to the Philippines in coordination with IFRC. (Dec-5, Gov UAE)

 

World Vision says two relief teams were previously sent to Albay and Camarines Sur to conduct assessments. Another team is scheduled to leave for Catanduanes on Thursday aboard a C-130 aircraft, which also carries an initial 300 sacks of rice, sardines and beans for aid distribution.  The remaining team will leave for Marinduque within the week due to the inaccessibility of the province. World Vision staff were also sent to Albay to establish Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) as soon as possible in affected communities. These areas provide children with a safe place where they can play and re-establish a normal routine.   (Dec-5, WVI) WVI launched initial appeal for US$1 million. Will provide food and NFIs to 20,000 people within the week. (Dec-03, WVI)

 

Foreign Governments

 

AUSAid has pledged US$1 million in emergency assistance. (Dec-03, OCHA)

 

Canada has pledged CAD 1 million ($500,000 thru the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to assist with emergency and temporary shelter, non-food items, water and sanitation; $500,000 thru the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to support local organizations in facilitating the recovery of affected households and addressing future disaster preparedness needs) (Dec-5, OCHA)

 

China providing US$200,000 (Dec-6, NDCC)

 

Ireland sent US$397,000 in cash. (Dec-04, Phil Inq)

 

Japan has decided to provide emergency assistance in kind (tents, blankets, generators, water tanks/containers) of 20 million yen (US$170,000). JICA also pledged emergency assistance of US$ 1 million. (Dec-03, OCHA)

 

Malaysia sent 1 C-130 planeload (about 20 tons) of emergency relief supplies. (Dec-04, NDCC)

 

Indonesia has sent 2 C-130 military aircraft arrived in Legaspi City with 25 tons cargo with: 8 tons assorted medicines; 4 tons infant food; 20,400 kgs food, canned goods and sardines; 6,000 bottles sweet soy sauce; 6,000 bottles chilli sauce; 1,800 bottles cooking oil; 200 boxes instant noodles; 290 boxes oatmeal; 1,100 cartons biscuits; and, clothing such as 3,000 pcs women, 3,000 pcs children and 3,000 pcs men’s wears valued at IDR 1,168,614,840 (PhP 6,310,520.14) (Dec-5, OCHA)

 

Republic of Korea sending US$100,000 cash assistance. (Dec-04, NDCC)

 

Saipan: JPY 20,000,000 or PhP 9.0 M (tents, blankets, generators, water tanks/containers (Dec-5, OCHA)

 

Singapore: Relief supplies (food, tents, blankets, sleeping bags and medicines) arrived in two batches via Singapore Airlines (Dec-5, OCHA)

 

Spain providing US$250,000 worth of relief goods in one plane load. (Dec-6, NDCC) Sent three-member medical team with one dog. (Dec-04, NDCC)

 

USAID has provided USD 250,000 as immediate cash assistance to relief organizations to procure emergency commodities such as blankets, mosquito nets, plastic mats, cooking utensils and to help finance the distribution of seeds to families whose crops were damaged by the typhoon as food for work program in Albay and further support local government efforts to clear roads and drainage infrastructure of debris. (Dec-5, OCHA) Relief goods worth some US$130,000 to PNRC from US arrived on Thursday (Dec 7). Supplies included 200 rolls plastic sheeting, 7,600 water containers, and 7,000 family hygiene kits. (Dec-7, INQ7)

 

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.