Tropical Depression Amang - Jan 2019

Heavy rainfall (greater than 7.5 mm per hour) is currently expected over Caraga Region (Region XIII), Davao Region (Region XI) and Eastern Visayas (VIII). The weather disturbance is expected to make landfall over the southern part of Davao region and traverse north through Caraga, Eastern Visayas up to Bicol region.

Caraga is particularly vulnerable as these are mountainous areas with river valleys and are susceptible to floods and landslides. The current landfall is forecasted for Caraga Region, Surigao del Sur Province located along the northeastern coast of Mindanao. Situated west is the Diwata Mountain Range, isolating the province from the rest of Mindanao.

Caraga is susceptible to landslides due to its rugged terrain, while the Agusan River Valley (the third largest river basin in the country, with a total drainage area of 11,937 square kilometres and an estimated length of 390 kilometres from its head origin in Compostela Valley) that stretches all the way to Davao, Butuan and Surigao makes the region prone to flash floods. (IFRC, 18 Jan 2019)

On 20 January, Tropical Depression Amang made landfall over Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province. As of 21 January, TD Amang was 40 km/h north-northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and is estimated to bring moderate to heavy rain over the Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions in areas that previously experienced widespread flooding and landslides due to TD Usman that struck in December, causing the loss of over 150 lives. Over 11,000 people have been pre-emptively evacuated in Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Eastern Samar, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur Provinces, and residents in flood and landslide prone areas have been advised to take precautionary measures. (OCHA, 21 Jan 2019)